Wales· Cities and regions· Scotland· Welfare 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 localisation of social security in the United Kingdom. The project team spans eight universities, Child Poverty Action Group and the Resolution Foundation. Devolution and localisation … Continued READ MORE
Universal Credit· Welfare 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. From this point, an estimated 8.5 million working-age adults and 6.5 million children will be living in households in receipt of UC, equivalent to a … Continued READ MORE
Living standards· Welfare Renew and improve Setting up the Household Support Fund for the future 22 May 2025 by Alex Clegg and Ruth Patrick and Jed Meers and Mike Brewer and Uisce Jordan and Millie Light and Rhiannon Simms and Hayley Bennett and Beth Watts-Cobbe and Joe Pardoe This briefing note, part of the Safety Nets project, assesses how the Household Support Fund could be improved in a longer-term settlement, through analysis of administrative data and interviews with local authorities and recipients of the scheme. READ MORE
Living standards· Covid-19 Pandemic Pressures Why families on a low income are spending more during Covid-19 11 January 2021 by Mike Brewer and Ruth Patrick Household spending has fallen during the Covid-19 pandemic, but not for many of those on the lowest incomes. This note brings together data from representative surveys with vivid accounts from parents and carers participating in the ‘Covid Realities’ research programme to explore the reasons behind, and consequences of, the cost pressures that many have faced since the pandemic began. READ MORE
