Progress on Tackling Pensioner Poverty

Progress on Tackling Pensioner Poverty PDF Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0102942404
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
The main report is also available (HCP 1178-I, ISBN 0102942315). A previous NAO report on this topic (HCP 37, session 2002-03) (ISBN 0102919577) and a report by the Committee of Public Accounts (HCP 565, session 2002-03) (ISBN 0215009347) are also available.

Progress on Tackling Pensioner Poverty

Progress on Tackling Pensioner Poverty PDF Author: Great Britain: National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0102942404
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 72

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Book Description
The main report is also available (HCP 1178-I, ISBN 0102942315). A previous NAO report on this topic (HCP 37, session 2002-03) (ISBN 0102919577) and a report by the Committee of Public Accounts (HCP 565, session 2002-03) (ISBN 0215009347) are also available.

Tackling pensioner poverty

Tackling pensioner poverty PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Work and Pensions Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215540478
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
The level of pensioner poverty has declined markedly since 1997. However, there are still 2 million pensioners in poverty and 1.1 million who live on below 50% of median income. The Committee considers this to be unacceptable, and in this report looks at what more the Government could do to lift pensioners out of poverty. Pension Credit has lifted large numbers of pensioners out of poverty. Take-up of Pension Credit improved rapidly after its introduction, but has since levelled off with many eligible pensioners still not claiming. Despite the best efforts of the Pension Disability and Carers Service (PDCS) it is seeing diminishing returns for its efforts. Take-up of Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit amongst pensioners has also declined since 1997. Improving take-up of all three benefits would markedly improve pensioner poverty. Local Authorities need to work much more closely with PDCS, to ensure that information on people who may be eligible for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit are (with permission) exchanged in both directions. This is not done at present and should therefore be trialled and depending on its success applied nationally. The Department has put a lot of effort into encouraging pensioners to claim Pension Credit, then directing them towards other benefits. The Committee concludes that there should be a single phone line for all three benefits.The lack of data PDCS collects on Pension Credit take-up, especially amongst vulnerable groups is a disappointment for the Committee and makes it very difficult for them to suggest ways to effectively target these groups.The automaticity pilots introduced in the Welfare Reform Bill is welcomed as is the Department taking a long term approach and seeking to find innovative ways to improve take-up. Among other benefits the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) is looked at, and also the differences between Disability Living Allowance (DLA) payable to those who become disabled under 65, and Attendance Allowance (AA), payable to those who become disabled after the age of 65. The Committee were impressed by the model used by Service Canada, which provides advice on all federal benefits, and provides signposting to other services. While no pensioner should be expected to work after 65, many would like to. Working longer can allow them to maintain social contacts, and to defer claiming a pension, something that can have a positive effect on their future income. The Committee calls for the Default Retirement Age to be abolished and for protection from discrimination for older workers to be strengthened, to ensure that every pensioner who wishes to can continue working. Past recessions have led to disproportionate numbers of older workers over 50 losing their jobs and never working again. The Department must not allow this to happen again.

Poverty in Scotland

Poverty in Scotland PDF Author: Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Scottish Affairs Committee
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780215037817
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 396

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Book Description
Incorporating HC 168-i to x, session 2006-07

Opportunity Age

Opportunity Age PDF Author: Great Britain. Department for Work and Pensions
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780101646628
Category : Family & Relationships
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
Dated March 2005. - 2 vols. not sold separately. Contents: Vol. 1: [Report]; Vol. 2: A social portrait of ageing in the UK: a snapshot of key trends and evidence.

Blair's Britain, 1997–2007

Blair's Britain, 1997–2007 PDF Author: Anthony Seldon
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1139468987
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 19

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Book Description
Tony Blair has dominated British political life for more than a decade. Like Margaret Thatcher before him, he has changed the terms of political debate and provoked as much condemnation as admiration. At the end of his era in power, this book presents a wide-ranging overview of the achievements and failures of the Blair governments. Bringing together Britain's most eminent academics and commentators on British politics and society, it examines the effect of the Prime Minister and his administration on the machinery of government, economic and social policy and foreign relations. Combining serious scholarship with clarity and accessibility, this book represents the authoritative verdict on the impact of the Blair years on British politics and society.

Understanding Social Security (Second Edition)

Understanding Social Security (Second Edition) PDF Author: Jane Millar
Publisher: Policy Press
ISBN: 1847421873
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 344

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Book Description
The second edition of this important text reviews policy developments since 1997. The chapters have been extensively updated and there are new chapters on social security reform, inequalities and social security, and the new 'welfare market'.

A More Equal Society?

A More Equal Society? PDF Author: John Hills
Publisher: Policy Press
ISBN: 1861345771
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
As the Labour government approaches the end of its second term in office there is a need to assess the welfare issues that have been put into place and examine what has been achieved. 'Poverty, Inequality and Exclusion' brings together the expertise of a range of authors to provide this evaluation.

Towards a more equal society?

Towards a more equal society? PDF Author: Hills, John
Publisher: Policy Press
ISBN: 1447315383
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 496

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Book Description
When New Labour came to power in 1997, its leaders asked for it to be judged after ten years on its success in making Britain 'a more equal society'. As it approaches the end of an unprecedented third term in office, this book asks whether Britain has indeed moved in that direction. The highly successful earlier volume A more equal society? was described by Polly Toynbee as the LSE's mighty judgement on inequality. Now this second volume by the same team of authors provides an independent assessment of the success or otherwise of New Labour's policies over a longer period. It provides: · consideration by a range of expert authors of a broad set of indicators and policy areas affecting poverty, inequality and social exclusion; · analysis of developments up to the third term on areas including income inequality, education, employment, health inequalities, neighbourhoods, minority ethnic groups, children and older people; · an assessment of outcomes a decade on, asking whether policies stood up to the challenges, and whether successful strategies have been sustained or have run out of steam; chapters on migration, social attitudes, the devolved administrations, the new Equality and Human Rights Commission, and future pressures. The book is essential reading for academic and student audiences with an interest in contemporary social policy, as well as for all those seeking an objective account of Labour's achievements in power.

Department for Work and Pensions

Department for Work and Pensions PDF Author: Great Britain. National Audit Office
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 9780102954784
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 44

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Book Description
The Department for Work and Pensions has made progress in reducing the number of leaflets that it produces for its customers and in making application forms simpler and shorter. The Department has significantly changed the way in which it provides information in recent years with a growth in telephone enquiries and in online provision. The Department has reduced the quantity of leaflets that it produces for customers, from 208 different leaflets in 2005 at a cost of �10.3 million to 53 leaflets in 2008 costing �1.7 million. It has also reduced the length of most of its forms, though some are unnecessarily long and guidance notes are complicated and the Department's computer generated letters are overly long and confusing for customers. The Department has put telephone calls at the centre of its application process. It is also increasingly using the internet to communicate with customers. In response to the rise in applications for the Jobseeker's Allowance, up by 81 per cent in the six months to January 2009, the Department plans to implement systems giving customers the option of full online applications for contributory Jobseeker's Allowance from summer 2009, rather than February 2010 as originally planned. Cost efficiencies from online provision have still to be realised fully. Though forms can be downloaded from the internet it is not yet possible to apply for most benefits online, meaning that staff and customer time is taken up handling claims over the telephone or face to face.

Stability, Security and Opportunity for All

Stability, Security and Opportunity for All PDF Author: Great Britain, Treasury Staff
Publisher: The Stationery Office
ISBN: 0101623720
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description
White paper dated July 2004.