Universal Credit: welfare that works

The White Paper “Universal Credit: welfare that works”, published on 11 November 2010, sets out the Coalition Government’s plans to introduce legislation to reform the welfare system by creating a new Universal Credit. Universal Credit will radically simplify the system to make work pay and combat worklessness and poverty. The White Paper outlines:

• the need for change
• how Universal Credit will work
• how it will affect benefit recipients, and
• its broader impact.

• Iain Duncan Smith’s speech – Universal Credit: welfare that works

The Government has also published its report on the “Consultation responses to 21st Century Welfare” which spelt out the problems of poor work incentives and complexity in the current benefits and Tax Credits systems. Over 1,600 responses were received. There was general agreement on the need for reform with strong support for our objectives of streamlining the system and making work pay.

• 21st Century Welfare

Universal Credit: welfare that works

Full document

• Universal Credit: welfare that works (1.8MB)

Section by section

• Foreword by the Secretary of State (44KB)
• Executive summary (50KB)
• Chapter 1 Why do we need fundamental reform? (182KB)
• Chapter 2 Universal Credit: a new approach to welfare (186KB)
• Chapter 3 Conditionality and sanctions (320KB)
• Chapter 4 Delivering Universal Credit – a better deal for everyone (197KB)
• Chapter 5 Reducing fraud and error (45KB)
• Chapter 6 Universal Credit and the wider system (46KB)
• Chapter 7 The impact of Universal Credit (224KB)
• Annexes (132KB)

RTF versions

• RTF – Universal Credit: welfare that works (659KB) RTF

Welsh executive summary

• Welsh executive summary – Universal Credit: welfare that works (1.8MB)

Easy read

• Easy read – Universal Credit: welfare that works (929KB)

Impact assessment

• Impact assessment – Universal Credit: welfare that works (154KB)
• Equality impact assessment – Universal Credit: welfare that works (108KB)
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