Universal credit crunch: entitlements, disregards and tapers

What do the UK government’s crucial decisions about universal credit (UC) in 2021 tell us about social security policy? 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. These policy choices tell us a lot about current government priorities.

By Donald Hirsch

Description: Universal credit crunch: entitlements, disregards and tapers

This content was last updated:01 Feb 2022

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Universal credit crunch: entitlements, disregards and tapers

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

Issue: Issue 171 (Feb 2022)

Poverty journaluniversal credit

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Other articles from this issue

Digitalisation and rights in universal credit

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

Publication:Poverty Journal, Issue 171 (Feb 2022)

Social security in Scotland

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

Publication:Poverty Journal, Issue 171 (Feb 2022)

The poverties

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

Publication:Poverty Journal, Issue 171 (Feb 2022)

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Universal credit crunch: entitlements, disregards and tapers

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