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Bill · started in the Commons

Welfare Reform

Amend the law relating to social security; to make provision enabling disabled people to be given greater control over the way in which certain public services are provided for them; to amend the law relating to child support; to make provision about the registration of births; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Welfare Reform was introduced in the House of Commons on 14 January 2009 by James Purnell (Labour). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law, receiving Royal Assent on 12 November 2009.

What the bill does

The Bill proposes to reform the welfare and benefit system to improve support and incentives for people to move from benefits into work. <br><br>It contains measures to increase personal responsibility within the welfare system. It also proposes to encourage parental responsibility by introducing a requirement for joint birth registration and by amending the law relating to child support.<br><br><strong>Key areas:</strong><br><ul><li>Reforms the benefits system by abolishing Income Support and moving all claimants on to either Jobseekers&rsquo; Allowance if they are well or Employment and Support Allowance if they are sick </li><li>aligns the contribution conditions between Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker&rsquo;s Allowance</li><li>introduces a regime of benefit sanctions for non-attendance at Jobcentres </li><li>requires job search by partners of benefit claimants</li><li>abolishes Adult Dependency Increases in the Carer&rsquo;s Allowance and Maternity Allowance </li><li>introduces work-focused interviews for over-60s </li><li>requires work-related activity in return for receipt of Employment and Support Allowance </li><li>introduces a requirement for births to be registered jointly by both parents</li><li>provides additional powers for the enforcement of child maintenance arrears.</li></ul>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 14 Jan 2009
  2. 2nd reading Commons 27 Jan 2009
  3. Programme motion Commons 27 Jan 2009
  4. Money resolution Commons 27 Jan 2009
  5. Committee stage Commons 10 Feb to 3 Mar 2009
  6. Report stage Commons 17 Mar 2009
  7. 3rd reading Commons 17 Mar 2009
  8. 1st reading Lords 18 Mar 2009
  9. 2nd reading Lords 29 Apr 2009
  10. Committee stage Lords 9 Jun to 7 Jul 2009
  11. Report stage Lords 22 Oct to 27 Oct 2009
  12. 3rd reading Lords 3 Nov 2009
  13. Programme motion Commons 10 Nov 2009
  14. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 10 Nov 2009
  15. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 12 Nov 2009
  16. Royal Assent Unassigned 12 Nov 2009

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 20 Nov 2009.