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Social Security Advisory Committee Consulation
25 July 2011
In June 2011, the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) undertook an independent review of Passported Benefits, on behalf of the Minister for Welfare Reform. The aim of the review was to provide advice on possible approaches to the provision of Passported Benefits under Universal Credit.
The closing date for responses was 22 July 2011.
Currently, individuals of working-age may be entitled to a number of ‘passported benefits’ when they are in receipt of out-of-work means tested benefits or tax credits. There are a large number of passported benefits available and they are administered by a wide range of organisations. This includes government departments, the devolved administrations, local authorities, and other bodies both within and outside of government, including commercial organisations.
Passported benefits can be differentiated into:
When Universal Credit (UC) is introduced it will provide a new single system of means-tested support for working-age people in and out of work. The current criteria for defining eligibility to various passported benefits will no longer exist. SSAC has been commissioned by the Minister for Welfare Reform to consider how passported benefits might be dealt with under UC, and is seeking the views of individuals, organisations and other bodies who have experience of passported benefits as part of the review. The SSAC was particularly interested in receiving views about benefits in kind but welcome responses relating to cash benefits and discounts as well.
The review asked 12 questions asking for suggestions about how a future passported benefit system might work.
The SSAC wanted any recommendations to take account of the UK Government’s view that any changes should not involve a net increase in public expenditure, including administrative costs, and/or increase complexity, and should also consider ways to reduce costs.
Disability Alliance's response to the SSAC passported benefits consultation has now been published. You can view this response by clicking on the link below.
An initial scoping/feasibility study will be undertaken and the terms of reference refined as necessary. The Committee will then provide a non-binding interim report in September. It will take further evidence and produce and publish a final report recommending options no later than January 2012.
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