In our take on Universal Credit in 2019 we review policy changes and recap our analysis and recommendations. We look forward to 2020 and how UC must change to work for everyone.
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Lessons learned: our year modelling Council Tax Reduction Schemes
We share 4 trends we’ve seen from modelling 150+ council tax reduction schemes in 2019 and discuss why discount schemes will be popular in the future.
The Duel: Should Universal Credit be scrapped?
Deven Ghelani and Paul Wallace were asked Should Universal Credit be scrapped? in Prospect magazine’s The Duel, December 2019. Article reproduced with kind permission.
Ten years of benefit cuts: worth the price?
Deven Ghelani reviews new analysis by University of Warwick that challenges a key driver for benefit cuts, asking if the savings generated are worth the price paid.
Benefit take-up and administrative data: an example from the US
In the US researchers also use administrative data to tackle social policy problems. Guest writer Mary-Alice Doyle shares work from J-PAL North America.
Election 2019: How the manifestos compare on welfare
We review what the main parties say about social security and welfare reform in their Election 2019 manifestos to see how they will increase living standards for low-income families.
The future of local welfare support
Zoe Charlesworth looks at local welfare support and shares examples of data-led innovation by some London boroughs.
Designing effective data-led intervention campaigns
Margaret Gallagher, Linda Morris and Emilio Innocenti from Haringey Council join us as we showcase how public sector administrative data is being used for good. Our guest speakers discuss how Haringey Council use the Policy in Practice LIFT Dashboard to run targeted intervention campaigns to encourage take-up of backdated Pension Credit claims.
The true cost of homelessness prevention services in London
Fabiana Macor, Policy and Data Analyst at Policy in Practice, looks at the importance of costing the homelessness crisis both in London and across the UK and the role data analysis can play in homelessness prevention.
How to target your Discretionary Housing Payments well
Ellie Kershaw from Tower Hamlets Council explores the challenges the borough has in spending Discretionary Housing Payments funding well. We hear how consistency with local priorities, speed of decision making and understanding effectiveness are key, and how Policy in Practice’s software is helping.
What the changes to advance payments mean for low-income households
George Sanderson looks at the numbers behind advance payments and asks whether the new measure, though welcome, goes far enough to secure the financial resilience of low-income households.
New analysis: Financial resilience and the transition to Universal Credit
Our new analysis, supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, identifies 7 factors that determine a household’s ability to cope with the transition to Universal Credit. We give 4 recommendations that Government should adopt now.