Publications What a ratchet! Why it’s time to stop being polite about the triple lock 10 June 2026 by Ruth Curtice and Alex Clegg The State Pension triple lock has delivered real gains for pensioners since its introduction in 2012. But the case for boosting pensioner incomes over and above others has now run… Continue Reading
Comment We can’t overlook education and benefits if we want to reduce the NEET rate Focusing too much on work to reduce the rising NEET rate risks overlooking two key areas 9 June 2026 by Alex Clegg This article was initially published on our Substack. The Interim Report of the Milburn Review made a stark warning about a ‘lost generation’ of young people. It was backed by two sets of… Continue Reading
Publications The state of the nations Social security in a devolved UK 21 May 2026 by Mark Simpson and Mike Brewer and Alex Clegg and Rod Hick and Tom Lee and Sioned Pearce and Ruth Patrick This report is part of the research programme of ‘Safety Nets: Social security for families in a devolved UK’. We are the first comprehensive, four-country study of the devolution and… Continue Reading
Events The welfare of nations How does social security differ across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland? Thursday 21 May 2026 Social security has been undergoing a quiet revolution across the UK. While attention has focused on the roll-out of Universal Credit, many other aspects of the benefits system are devolved,… Continue Reading
Publications Happy new tax year 2026 Putting tax and social security changes in the context of rising energy bills 2 April 2026 by Lalitha Try The start of April marks the beginning of the new tax year, meaning households will face a wide range of tax, benefit and utility bill changes. Benefit changes in April… Continue Reading
Comment A clearer picture of household incomes – but no cause for complacency on poverty The latest Households Below Average Income release uses survey data linked to benefit administration records for the first time – but what does this mean for poverty rates? 27 March 2026 by Alex Clegg The Department for Work and Pensions has published its latest release of Households Below Average Income (HBAI), its flagship data source on household incomes and poverty. This release provides outturn figures for 2024–25. Our focus on the living standards of low and… Continue Reading
Publications Unsung Britain A portrait of the country's poorer half 10 February 2026 by Resolution Foundation The 13 million working-age families across the poorer half of the country are widely courted by politicians. No party can win elections without their votes, and the country cannot succeed without their… Continue Reading
Publications Listen and learn Improving the way that Universal Credit works 29 January 2026 by Alex Clegg and Lindsay Judge and Ruth Patrick and Millie Light April 2026 will mark a true milestone for the UK benefits system: the end of the thirteen-year rollout of Universal Credit (UC) that has brought together all means-tested working-age benefits.… Continue Reading
