Welfare Reform

The Bill proposes to reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work. <br><br>It contains measures to increase personal responsibility within the welfare system. It also proposes to encourage parental responsibility by introducing a requirement for joint birth registration and by amending the law relating to child support.<br><br><strong>Key areas:</strong><br><ul><li>Reforms the benefits system by abolishing Income Support and moving all claimants on to either Jobseekers&rsquo; Allowance if they are well or Employment and Support Allowance if they are sick </li><li>aligns the contribution conditions between Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker&rsquo;s Allowance</li><li>introduces a regime of benefit sanctions for non-attendance at Jobcentres </li><li>requires job search by partners of benefit claimants</li><li>abolishes Adult Dependency Increases in the Carer&rsquo;s Allowance and Maternity Allowance </li><li>introduces work-focused interviews for over-60s </li><li>requires work-related activity in return for receipt of Employment and Support Allowance </li><li>introduces a requirement for births to be registered jointly by both parents</li><li>provides additional powers for the enforcement of child maintenance arrears.</li></ul>