Welfare Rights Bulletin articles

On 25 July 2007, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Jane Kennedy MP, issued a statement relating to administrative errors concerning some finalised awards for 2003/04, 2004/05 and 2005/06. The finalised award is a conclusive award and can only be revised under certain legal provisions.

The Government have published a Green Paper outlining proposals on achieving full employment, including the threat of more benefit sanctions for lone parents and the unemployed. Simon Osborne describes the main points.

Alison Gillies looks at how to work out childcare charges for working tax credit and how to identify when there has been a relevant change.

Stewart Wright maps out where the requirement to have a national insurance number impacts on benefits and tax credits, and indicates where some legal challenges may arise.

The Welfare Reform Bill received Royal Assent on 3 May and became the Welfare Reform Act. Edward Graham summarises its main provisions

Simon Osborne looks at the most recent rules and at what the latest research suggests about their likely effectiveness.

Stewart Wright takes a look at recent case law in this area and highlights some areas which remain to be explored.

Simon Osborne describes the main benefit and tax credit provisions in the 2007 Budget, as set out in the Budget Report.

Edward Graham looks at recent announcements and rumours regarding lone parents and benefit.

Pamela Fitzpatrick gives a brief overview of the changes to benefit rules brought about by the Accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.