The US is in the early stages of repurposing an old policy tool – a national child allowance – to a new end: cutting child poverty during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. How does this compare to the past and present situation for children and child benefits in the UK?

By Megan A Curran

Reducing poverty-related stigma to improve the uptake of free school meals is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated how millions of families rely on school food to help make ends meet. How are free school meals delivered in different schools and what impact does that have on children? What can be done to reduce shame and stigma for children?

By Ellie Harwood

In-work poverty has been on the rise in the UK. Just before the pandemic hit, three-quarters of children living in poverty had at least one parent in work. What role does the social security system, and in particular universal credit, play in helping or hindering low-income working families?

By Hannah Aldridge

Jessica Strode reviews the law on the national insurance number (NINo) requirement, before considering official policy on operating the requirement and a possible legal challenge.

The coronavirus pandemic has led to many more people being affected by the benefit cap. Owen Stevens revisits the ‘grace period’ exemption from the universal credit benefit cap.

​Simon Osborne reports on recent legal and policy developments regarding deductions from universal credit (UC).

​Mark Willis reviews coronavirus-related changes from April 2021.

New provision has been made for inclusion of a transitional SDP element in the calculation of universal credit (UC) awards. Owen ​Stevens examines these provisions.

Rosie Mears considers some common issues that arise with supersessions of universal credit (UC) awards and the importance of properly identifying the ground of supersession and effective date from which an award should be superseded.

​Jessica Strode looks at some legal issues regarding work capability assessments during the coronavirus pandemic.

Outlining the key issues for children’s rights in the UK, CRAE’s report warns that a child’s right to an adequate standard of living has regressed since 2016. What progress has been made in protecting and promoting children’s rights, and how is the UK government falling short?

By Natalie Williams

How have changes to the benefits system affected low-income families over the last decade and what does this mean for their exposure to the economic fallout of COVID-19? What has happened to depth of poverty, particularly for the poorest BAME children? And what reform agenda does this set for social security beyond the pandemic?

By Daniel Edmiston and Siddharth Thakkar