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Select Committee · Welsh Affairs Committee

The Benefits System in Wales

Status: Closed Opened: 11 Jun 2021 Closed: 16 Oct 2023 19 recommendations 14 conclusions 1 report

The Welsh Affairs Committee has launched an inquiry examining the benefits system in Wales. The new inquiry comes following a period of unprecedented challenge for the benefits system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you live in Wales, fill out our short survey to send in your views about the benefits system in … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - The Benefits System in Wales HC 337 17 Mar 2022 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

8 items
6 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

Given the comparatively high proportion of low paid workers in Wales, we were concerned to...

Given the comparatively high proportion of low paid workers in Wales, we were concerned to hear of issues regarding the eligibility criteria for Statutory Sick Pay. While we acknowledge that there may be other support available to unwell workers, the pandemic has highlighted the dangers of someone attending work when … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it has already improved work incentives in Universal Credit in response to a report, cutting the taper rate and increasing work allowances.
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Wales Office
11 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

Without the uplift, benefits for the unemployed are at their lowest real-terms level since the...

Without the uplift, benefits for the unemployed are at their lowest real-terms level since the early 1990s. Had they grown in line with GDP per capita since 1990, they would be £40 a week higher. The future value of benefits is also being reduced given the increasing cost of living, … Read more

Government response AI summary
The DWP is undertaking a national communications campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit, including promotional activity on social media, search engines, newspapers, leaflets and posters. They also engage regularly with the Welsh Government on Pension Credit take-up activities.
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Wales Office
14 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

The UK Government should take forward the recommendations of the In-Work Commissioner and review how...

The UK Government should take forward the recommendations of the In-Work Commissioner and review how the taper rate and work allowances can best support in-work progression.

Government response AI summary
The government will allocate £99m to provide around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants with support to progress into higher-paid work through work coach support and Progression Champions working with local partners.
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Wales Office
20 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

We received evidence regarding a lack of awareness among the wider public of key benefits,...

We received evidence regarding a lack of awareness among the wider public of key benefits, most notably Pension Credit. The UK Government should address this directly through a UK-wide income maximisation campaign and design its messaging so that it not only raises awareness of the benefit but also addresses any … Read more

Government response AI summary
The Department for Work and Pensions is undertaking a national communications campaign, launched on 4 April, to raise awareness of Pension Credit and encourage eligible pensioners to claim.
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Wales Office
21 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

The DWP and Welsh Government should work together with local authorities to run a take-up...

The DWP and Welsh Government should work together with local authorities to run a take-up campaign on Pension Credit, with messaging designed to both raise awareness but also address any reservations some older people may have about claiming it.

Government response AI summary
The DWP is undertaking a national communications campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit, including promotional activity on social media, search engines, newspapers, leaflets and posters. They also engage regularly with the Welsh Government on Pension Credit take-up activities.
Read full response →
Wales Office
25 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

39% of Universal Credit claimants are already in work: the issue for them is not...

39% of Universal Credit claimants are already in work: the issue for them is not finding a job but finding a higher paid one or more hours. We welcome the UK Government’s commitment to providing claimants with in-work support and look forward to hearing further details about how its Progression … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government will allocate £99m to provide around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants with support to progress into higher-paid work through work coach support and Progression Champions working with local partners.
Read full response →
Wales Office
26 Conclusion Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

We note that the In-Work Commissioner’s report on Supporting People out of Low Pay found...

We note that the In-Work Commissioner’s report on Supporting People out of Low Pay found that most Jobcentre Plus support is tailored to help people get into work: there is less support and training available for those who are already there. We support its recommendation that Jobcentres should provide a … Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government will allocate £99m to provide around 2.1m low-paid benefit claimants with support to progress into higher-paid work through work coach support, addressing skills gaps, training opportunities, and progression opportunities, supported by Progression Champions in every Jobcentre District working with key partners.
Read full response →
Wales Office
27 Recommendation Fourth Report - The Benefits System in … Accepted

The UK Government should accept the In-Work Commissioner’s recommendation to provide a credible in-work offer...

The UK Government should accept the In-Work Commissioner’s recommendation to provide a credible in-work offer for all working benefit claimants. The UK Government should outline how it will take this work forward with the Welsh Government and report back to us in 12 months on the progress made. The UK … Read more

Government response AI summary
The UK Government is committed to helping workers progress into higher pay and announced that £99m would be allocated to provide around 2.1m low—paid benefit claimants with support to progress into higher—paid work. They will provide work coach support, Progression Champions, and work with key …
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Wales Office

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
8 Dec 2021 Andrew Latto · Department for Work & Pensions, David Rutley MP · Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Geth Williams · Wales Office, Sarah Pearson · Department for Work and Pensions View ↗
2 Dec 2021 Alison Corriea · Cartrefi Conwy Housing Association, Cordelia Deady · Wrexham County Borough Council, Gwennan Hardy · Citizens Advice Cymru, Jane Hutt MS · Welsh Government, Megan Thomas · Meta, Paul Neave · Welsh Government View ↗
3 Nov 2021 Anna Coote · New Economics Foundation, Dr Malcolm Torry · University of Bath, Jonathan Williams · UBI Lab Wales, Professor Paul Spicker · Robert Gordon University View ↗
21 Oct 2021 Anvar Sarygulov · Bright Blue, Charlotte Pickles · Reform, Charlotte Pickles · Social Security Advisory Committee, Dr Mike Brewer · Resolution Foundation, Dr Victoria Winckler · Bevan Foundation View ↗
16 Sep 2021 Emma Congreve · Fraser of Allander Institute, Professor Christina Beatty · Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University, Professor Lisa Scullion · University of Salford View ↗

Who gave evidence

22 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Alison Corriea · Welfare Adviser Cartrefi Conwy Housing Association 1
Andrew Latto · Deputy Director, Devolution, Pensioner Benefits a… Department for Work & Pensions 1
Anna Coote · Research Fellow New Economics Foundation 1
Anvar Sarygulov · Senior Research Fellow Bright Blue 1
Charlotte Pickles · Director Reform 1
Charlotte Pickles · Member Social Security Advisory Committee 1
Cordelia Deady · Welfare Rights Supervisor Wrexham County Borough Council 1
David Rutley MP · Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Americas … Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office 1
Dr Malcolm Torry · Visiting Fellow, Institute for Policy Research University of Bath 1
Dr Mike Brewer · Deputy Chief Executive Resolution Foundation 1
Dr Victoria Winckler · Director Bevan Foundation 1
Emma Congreve · Knowledge Exchange Fellow Fraser of Allander Institute 1
Geth Williams · Deputy Director Wales Office 1
Gwennan Hardy · Senior Policy Officer Citizens Advice Cymru 1
Jane Hutt MS · Minister for Social Justice Welsh Government 1
Jonathan Williams · Co-founder UBI Lab Wales 1
Megan Thomas · Public Policy Manager Meta 1
Paul Neave · Head of Social Welfare Advice and DWP Policy Welsh Government 1
Professor Christina Beatty · Professor of Applied Economic Geography Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research, Sheffield Hallam University 1
Professor Lisa Scullion · Professor of Social Policy University of Salford 1
Professor Paul Spicker · Emeritus Professor of Public Policy Robert Gordon University 1
Sarah Pearson · Area Director Work and Health Services, Wales and… Department for Work and Pensions 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
7 Sep 2022 To cttee Letter from the Minister for Welfare Delivery, Department for Work and Pensions…