For details of the Commission on Social Security, click here.
To complete the Call for Solutions questionnaire, click here.
Readers of this website might be interested in attending one of the events related to a consultation on the future of social security benefits
WHAT PROPOSALS SHOULD BE MADE IN THE NEXT UK WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY (WELFARE BENEFITS)?
A Series of Workshops Supported by the UK Social Policy Association
To register a place, click here
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BACKGROUND
The social security/welfare benefits system is failing, with foodbanks and homelessness just two of the most visible signs of this. But there is little agreement, even within civil society, on ways forward.
THE WORKSHOPS
Please join us at one of a series of workshops to stimulate thinking about the future of social security/welfare benefits. In particular, the workshops will input to a project called the Commission on Social Security (welfare benefits), led by Experts by Experience which is issuing a Call for Solutions.
The Commission is highly innovative in that all the Commissioners are people with experience of claiming benefits. The Commission’s aim is to produce a White Paper style document setting out a better system and building consensus. The Call for Solutions will include questions such as the following:
- What steps can be taken to make Universal Credit better or if you think it should be scrapped, what would replace it?
- How can people who are sick or disabled be better supported and how should the system work out who should get sickness or disability benefits?
- Should there be a minimum income level below which no one can fall and if so, how could this be done?
- How should benefit rates be worked out and how much should each benefit be?
Workshop participants will also be welcome to identify solutions on the whole range of issues relevant to social security/welfare benefits. For example, sanctions, Child Benefit, Local Welfare Assistance Schemes, National Insurance contributory benefits, support for housing costs and council tax, individual/household assessments and payments, how increased spending on benefits can be financed, the balance between means-testing or being contributions-based and reflecting people’s particular needs or being universal? Etc.
WORKSHOP FORMAT
The workshops will have a participatory format including small group work and consensus building activities.
They will be structured around the Call for Solutions being made by the Commission on Social Security led by Experts by Experience but will also identify other possible activity.
LOCATIONS, DATES AND TIMES
- London – Thursday 6 June 2019, 2.15pm-5.15pm
- Belfast – Thursday 20 June 2019, 1pm-4pm, hosted by Law Centre NI
- Glasgow – Wednesday 3 July 2019, 1pm-4pm, hosted by Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland
- Leeds – Thursday 4 July 2019, 1pm-4pm, hosted by Leeds University Business School
- Teesside – Tuesday 18 June 2019, 1pm to 4pm, hosted by Thrive, Stockton
- Teesside – Tuesday 18 June 2019, 6pm to 8pm, hosted by Thrive, Stockton
Further locations will be announced shortly.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Anyone interested in a better social security/welfare benefits system will be made very welcome. This includes Experts by Experience, user-led or community groups, third sector organisations and academics.
WORKSHOP ORGANISERS
Michael Orton and Kate Summers.
Any queries please email Michael Orton
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Workshops are free but places are limited and registration is essential: Click here to register.
A small travel budget is available for people who would otherwise be unable to attend. Please contact the organisers for further information.
In 2016-17 the Social Policy Association supported a previous series of workshops on social security/welfare benefits which identified an agenda for future work. That agenda is summarised here and informs this latest initiative.