Overview

The Welfare Reform Act 2009 amended UK social security law, gave disabled people more control over services, reformed child maintenance, and altered birth registration processes.

Description

This Act significantly altered social security benefits. It introduced "work for your benefit" schemes, requiring claimants to participate in employment-focused activities. Income Support was abolished, transitioning claimants to income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. New conditions and sanctions were implemented for benefit claimants, including those dependent on drugs or who engaged in violent conduct at benefit offices. Lone parents received modified requirements for work-related activity, with protections for those with young children. The Act also introduced a new system of external provider social loans and modified community care grants.

Concerning disabled people, the Act aimed to increase choice and control over service provision. It allowed for direct payments to disabled individuals to procure services themselves and established pilot schemes to assess the efficacy of these changes.

Regarding child maintenance, the Act strengthened enforcement mechanisms by allowing for the disqualification of driving licenses and travel authorizations for non-payment. Finally, the Act updated birth registration procedures, particularly for children of unmarried parents.

Government Spending

The Act's impact on government spending is not explicitly detailed in the provided text. However, the abolition of Income Support and the introduction of new benefit conditions and sanctions likely resulted in both savings and increased administrative costs. The introduction of external provider social loans may have shifted some spending from direct government disbursement to external providers.

Groups Affected

• Benefit Claimants: Faced changes to eligibility criteria, work requirements, and sanctions for non-compliance. Some experienced a transition to new benefit types.
• Lone Parents: Experienced modified work-related activity requirements, with some protections for those with young children.
• Disabled People: Gained increased choice and control over service provision through direct payments and support plans.
• Parents of Unmarried Children: Faced altered birth registration procedures.
• Individuals with Drug or Alcohol Dependency: Faced new requirements for assessments, treatment, and sanctions for non-compliance.
• Child Maintenance Non-payers: Faced stronger enforcement measures, including potential disqualification from driving and international travel.
• Government Agencies: Undertook significant administrative changes to implement the Act's provisions.

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