Changes to Benefits from April 2011 to 2017
Spending Reviews are the way that the Government sets spending plans over a period of several years across the full range of government activities including welfare payments as well as things such as the funding of schools and hospitals.
In the Spending Review in October, the Chancellor announced a major reform of the welfare system including the Government's intention to replace all working age benefits and tax credits with a single, simple Universal Credit| to ensure that it always pays to work, and that those who get work will be better off than those who don't.
Universal Credit will be introduced over the next two Parliaments alongside a new Work Programme. Using the resources of the voluntary and private sectors, the Work Programme will provide intensive help to those looking for work, and support for those who could look for work but currently lack the confidence or skills to try.
It will replace a number of benefits for working age claimants, including Housing Benefit, for all new claimants from April 2013, with the existing caseloads transferring over by April 2017.
Local Authorities will continue to administer a local Council Tax "rebate" scheme from April 2013. This will not form part of Universal Credit.
In the Spending Review, the Chancellor also announced a range of other proposals including changes to tax credits, child benefit and non-dependant deductions.
In addition to this, a number of changes were announced in the Emergency Budget in June 2010 which will affect Local Housing Allowance and Housing and Council Tax Benefit from April 2011 - 2013.
If you want to more about these changes, please read our leaflet Emergency Budget Changes on the Latest benefit news| page for more information.
You can also use the links below to read more information about the proposals on the DirectGov website:
If you want a summary timetable of all the Welfare reform changes announced with the key target dates, please download our leaflet "Forthcoming Changes|".