I wasn’t a 'Whitehall Warrior' and so thought I didn’t have a chance of being selected when I applied to become a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)! But it turned out they welcome and encourage a breadth …
Prior to my appointment to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC), my work at the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group was primarily focused on tax and tax credits. At that time, I had developed a special interest in the tax …
I have been a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) since 2016 and, as my term comes to an end, I want to reflect on what a fascinating role it has been. When I was first appointed, I …
In our report, published today, we set out to understand how the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) involves disabled people in developing, delivering and evaluating programmes that affect them. There is growing recognition across public policy – from health …
The government response to Covid-19 has included a series of easements, adjustments and additions to social security benefit entitlements that the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has welcomed as necessary and beneficial. We recognise that the unprecedented circumstances meant many …
Almost everyone in this country receives support from social security in the course of our lives, as a plethora of different circumstances change.[1] This may be a short-term change - perhaps a period of unemployment or ill-health - or longer …
In November 2018, SSAC’s report on the Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018 was published, along with the Government’s response. The consultation exercise that led to that report received more responses than any other SSAC consultation. Many of the organisations …
Universal Credit is the main means-tested benefit for those with low incomes, including both those not in paid work and those with low earnings. It is conditional on claimants accepting a ‘claimant commitment’ which is designed as an agreement between …
The social security system supports people in a wide range of circumstances but it is not always clear how effective this support is. This is partly because social security can be complex and different benefits try to do different things …
Committee members went to Scotland at the start of the month, four years since our last visit. In 2015, we looked at the early pilots of Universal Support, heard from Jobcentre staff at the height of Jobseeker’s Allowance sanctions and …
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About this blog
SSAC is an independent statutory body that provides impartial advice on social security and related matters. We scrutinise most of the complex secondary legislation that underpins the social security system.
