One of the principles that CPAG espouses in its Secure Futures project is that social security should protect people in vulnerable circumstances. Recent tragedies highlight where the system is currently falling short, but what is being done to protect people and ensure they always have enough resources to avoid squalor, starvation and suicide?

By Gary Vaux

​Claire Hall examines CPAG’s recent test case concerning universal credit (UC) claimants who are working 16 hours per week at the national living wage and the potential implications of the case for the application of the benefit cap ‘earnings exemption’ for such claimants.

An anonymous civil servant was quoted in the press on 26 March as saying that the coronavirus crisis ‘could be the making of universal credit’. What has happened in recent months to universal credit (UC), which has been seen as the key answer in terms of benefits to difficulties during the COVID-19 crisis?

By Fran Bennett

With Marcus Rashford’s successful campaign to extend their provision into the summer holidays this year, free school meals are back on the agenda. But what about universal provision? The universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) programme was introduced in 2014 in England. What impact has UIFSM had on disadvantaged school children?

By Angus Holford and Birgitta Rabe

CPAG has issued proceedings in the High Court for a judicial review of HMRC’s refusal to accept a retrospective child tax credit (CTC) claim from a newly recognised refugee. Jessica Strode explains.

Advance payments of universal credit (UC) are the main official response to the long waiting time before payment of UC begins. But advance payments are recoverable by deduction from subsequent payments. What are the relevant rules, and are they being correctly applied? Lynsey Dalton takes a look.

​Sabrina Dubash describes universal credit (UC) regulations which deal with coronavirus-related payments for the self-employed and with new rules on treating a claimant as having reapplied for UC.

​Claire Hall considers the implications of a test case regarding universal credit (UC) claimants who are paid monthly and receive a ‘double payment’ of wages in the same assessment period.

In 1999, in a speech at Toynbee Hall in East London, prime minister Tony Blair named 2020 as the target year for ending child poverty. To mark the year child poverty was to have been ended, academics, policy analysts and practitioners have contributed to a collection of essays for CPAG on effective approaches to tackling child poverty: 2020 Vision: ending child poverty for good.

By Lizzie Flew

Each Thursday evening we clapped our love and gratitude for health professionals and carers in our universal health service. The same gratitude is due for our social security system – the front line for the care and support of our neighbours’ financial security, keeping them safe, secure and fed. But is this how people feel? And if not, why not?

By Alison Garnham

Over two million people affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have claimed universal credit (UC) in the past two months. But claimants already getting tax credits have the option of staying in the tax credits system instead. Mark Willis explains.