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Bill · started in the Commons

Welfare Reform Act 2012

A Bill to make provision for universal credit and personal independence payment; to make other provision about social security and tax credits; to make provision about the functions of the registration service, child support maintenance and the use of jobcentres; and for connected purposes.

Now an Act of Parliament

The story so farThe Welfare Reform Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 February 2011 by Mr Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative). It completed its passage through Parliament and became law as the Welfare Reform Act 2012, receiving Royal Assent on 8 March 2012.

What the bill does

<p>The Bill provides for the introduction of a 'Universal Credit' to replace a range of existing means-tested benefits and tax credits for people of working age, starting from 2013. The Bill follows the November 2010 White Paper, 'Universal Credit: welfare that works', which set out the Coalition Government&rsquo;s proposals for reforming welfare to improve work incentives, simplify the benefits system and tackle administrative complexity.</p><p>Besides introducing Universal Credit and related measures, the Bill makes other significant changes to the benefits system. </p><p><strong>Key areas</strong></p><ul><li>introduces Personal Independence Payments to replace the current Disability Living Allowance</li><li>restricts Housing Benefit entitlement for social housing tenants whose accommodation is larger than they need</li><li>up-rates Local Housing Allowance rates by the Consumer Price Index</li><li>amends the forthcoming statutory child maintenance scheme</li><li>limits the payment of contributory Employment and Support Allowance to a 12-month period</li><li>caps the total amount of benefit that can be claimed.</li></ul><p>During the Committee Stage, the Government amended the Bill to provide for the establishment of a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.</p>

Progress through Parliament

  1. 1st reading Commons 16 Feb 2011
  2. 2nd reading Commons 9 Mar 2011
  3. Programme motion Commons 9 Mar 2011
  4. Money resolution Commons 9 Mar 2011
  5. Committee stage Commons 22 Mar to 24 May 2011
  6. Programme motion Commons 13 Jun 2011
  7. Report stage Commons 13 Jun to 15 Jun 2011
  8. 3rd reading Commons 15 Jun 2011
  9. 1st reading Lords 16 Jun 2011
  10. 2nd reading Lords 13 Sep 2011
  11. Committee stage Lords 4 Oct to 28 Nov 2011
  12. Report stage Lords 12 Dec 2011 to 25 Jan 2012
  13. 3rd reading Lords 31 Jan 2012
  14. Programme motion Commons 1 Feb 2012
  15. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 1 Feb 2012
  16. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 14 Feb 2012
  17. Consideration of Lords amendments Commons 21 Feb 2012
  18. Consideration of Commons amendments and / or reasons Lords 29 Feb 2012
  19. Royal Assent Unassigned 8 Mar 2012

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 9 Mar 2012.