Iain Duncan Smith, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, set out his plans to completely change the benefits system in the paper 21st Century Welfare. This was published on 30 July 2010.
Not only is the plan for a complete root and branch reform of the range of benefits and credits available, but also the way in which these will reduce as people both start and progress in work.
One of the stated potential outcomes of this reform is that it would “allow extra support for things like housing, children and disability”. However, as always the devil will no doubt be in the detail.
The Department for Work and Pensions is holding a consultation on this paper until 1st October 2010, and there are a couple of ways you can respond.
You can view the paper and respond online here.
You respond by mail to:
Benefit Reform Division
Department for Work and Pensions
1st Floor
Caxton House
6-12 Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
Or by email: benefit.reform@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
You can also request a hard copy of the paper from the DWP via the above contact details.
A full PDF of the paper is available here.