We analyse the increase to the Local Housing Allowance rate to see how it impacts a privately renting household’s ability to meet their rent

New COVID-19 analysis finds low sick pay may undermine Test and Trace
New research by Policy in Practice shows that low sick pay may undermine Test and Trace as people on low incomes could lose £100’s of pounds if they are asked to self isolate. Some households who are asked to self isolate will struggle to bear the immediate financial costs of relying on Statutory Sick Pay. If their loss of earnings is too great, they may feel they need to return to work, and thereby risk spreading COVID-19.
June 2020

Evidence into how well DWP has responded to the Coronavirus pandemic
Policy in Practice responded to a survey by the Work and Pensions Committee about how DWP responded to the Coronavirus pandemic. In our submission we shared highlights from our work supporting thousands of claimants from late March to early April 2020. In addition to our evidence, we make three main recommendations to make the benefit system more supportive to claimants, and better able to support the country through this pandemic. We call for the savings limit in Universal Credit to be suspended for the next twelve months, the two-child benefit limit and the benefit cap to be suspended (or at least increased to £2,500 per month) for the duration of the pandemic and the increased generosity of the welfare system to be maintained after April 2021.
April 2020

The impact of COVID-19 welfare support measures on household income report
Policy in Practice has analysed the impact of the new measures announced by the government to show how they will help households hit by Coronavirus (COVID-19). As a result of the changes to Universal Credit, the number of households in receipt of Universal Credit whose bills are higher than their monthly income will fall from 16% of households to 10%. The average increase in Universal Credit awards as a result of changes coming into effect from April 2020 will be £98/month, an increase of 7.3%.
The impacts of the three main changes announced up to Friday 20 March 2020 are examined.
March 2020

Autumn Budget 2018 analysis
Policy in Practice analysed the impact of the budget changes. Our analysis found that almost 250,000 low-income households would move from being worse off under Universal Credit, compared to legacy benefits, to being better off as a result. We also found that Universal Credit does not appear to have a statistically significant impact on employment rates. That said, there is more evidence that any significant impact is more likely to be positive rather than negative.
November 2018

Impacts of the Benefit Cap
Giovanni Tonnutti of Policy in Practice presented to the Work and Pensions Committee on the impacts of the Benefit Cap. We also released a press statement that half of households are failing to escape the Benefit Cap. Our Low-Income Londoners study found that for every claimant who managed to move off the cap, there is more than one household who is stuck under the cap for six months or longer. Read our news release here.
October 2018

Autumn Budget 2017: Briefing option papers on Universal Credit
The briefing papers were created with feedback from practioners and analysis by Policy in Practice. The options in the papers were discussed with DWP and offer a range of suggestions that would ease the transition for the seven million households who will be receiving Universal Credit in the coming years.
November 2017
Options to reduce the 6 week wait
Further options to improve Universal Credit
Autumn Statement 2023: Support versus sanctions – how can we best help people into work?
We analyse employment support to help people with disabilities and health conditions into work that is a key feature of Autumn Statement 2023
Autumn Statement 2023: Uprating benefits – the long view
We explore the uprating of benefits and the state pension in our second analysis of the Autumn Statement 2023
Autumn Statement 2023: A step forward after many steps back
We continue our analysis of the Autumn Statement 2023 to see what it means for families on the lowest incomes
Benefit levels in the UK: Policy in Practice’s evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee
UK benefit levels are 7.5% lower than a decade ago. Read Deven Ghelani’s evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee on their adequacy
Household Support Fund: Schemes should consider new Local Welfare Assistance research
Money for Household Support Fund schemes has been announced and new research about Local Welfare Assistance schemes can help with plan designs
Is now the time for a minimum income for benefit recipients?
We spoke on a panel discussing Bright Blue’s new report proposing a minimum income for benefit recipients plus other reforms
Tackling economic inactivity amongst the UK’s working age adults
We critique recent policy announcements by Labour and the government on tackling economic inactivity, identifying common ground.
Low income households will still be worse off in April 2023 despite extra support
Low income households won’t be better off in April 2023 despite benefit uprating, wage increase and cost of living payments.
Autumn Statement 2022 and low income families
We review the Autumn Statement 2022 and what it will deliver for low-income households who will need support in 2023.