When the coalition government published its flagship paper on universal credit (UC) in 2010, it promised a ‘digital first’ benefit. Since then we have seen the digitalisation of the UK’s working-age social security system, a process that continues today. But what impact has this transformation had on claimants and their rights?

By Sophie Howes and Rosie Mears

​Owen Stevens considers the circumstances in which the amount of the transitional SDP element included in the calculation of a claimant’s universal credit (UC) award can be reduced (or ‘eroded’), as a result of increases to her/his UC.

​Martin Williams considers whether those with pre-settled status and no other qualifying right to reside have any remaining route to obtaining benefits to which the right to reside test applies.

​Claire Hall considers the DWP’s retrospective reverification of universal credit (UC) claims made during the early stages of the pandemic.

The DWP is encouraging those on legacy benefits who ‘would be better off’ on universal credit (UC) to claim it voluntarily, and is also resuming ‘managed migration’ to UC during 2022. Where does this leave claimants and those that advise them? Simon Osborne takes a look.

Investment in social security alone will not be enough to end child poverty in Scotland, but the last 25 years shows us the clear link between social security and poverty rates across the UK. What opportunities do Scotland’s powers to invest in social security offer? And how can the Scottish government use them to reduce child poverty?

By Dave Morris and Ed Pybus

Many of us have been irritated by the splintering of the notion of poverty in recent years. Food poverty, fuel poverty, water poverty, digital poverty, transport poverty, period poverty: surely they are all just poverty we have cried! With ‘poverty’ defined as a relative lack of income, is there any merit in looking at different poverties?

By Jonathan Bradshaw

The government faced significant opposition to cutting the £20 which had been added to the UC standard allowance as the pandemic struck but went ahead anyway. The October 2021 budget then offered significant improvements to UC for those in work. What do the UK government’s crucial decisions about universal credit (UC) in 2021 tell us about social security policy?

By Donald Hirsch

​Simon Osborne reviews the ‘substantial risk’ rules in the work capability assessment, looking at some key questions and caselaw.

Hardship payments are payable when a claimant’s UC has been reduced due to a sanction or benefit offence and s/he is in hardship. Sabrina Dubash looks at the main rules and issues.

Owen Stevens discusses what can be done when a DWP decision maker has ‘stayed’ making a decision on entitlement to universal credit (UC) or, alternatively, a tribunal has stayed an appeal pending the outcome of the Secretary of State for Work and Pension’s appeal to the UK Supreme Court, against the judgment in Fratila and T​anase v SSWP and AIRE Centre [2020] EWCA Civ 1741.

​Claire Hall updates on CPAG’s test case concerning universal credit (UC) claimants who are working 16 hours a week earning the national living wage hourly rate, but who are being subjected to the benefit cap because of their wage pay cycle.