Welfare Reform on the Web (July 2003): Social Security - UK

HOUSING BENEFIT SANCTIONS AND ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

Department for Work and Pensions

London: 2003

Presents proposals for reducing the Housing Benefit of tenants guilty of anti-social behaviour. The sanction could be triggered by a court conviction or by a local authority administrative process. Sanctions should be capable of being applied quickly, be fair, be free from excessive bureaucracy, and be compatible with Human Rights.

POOR RELIEF OR POOR DEAL? THE SOCIAL FUND, SAFETY NETS AND SOCIAL SECURITY

T. Bulk and R.S. Smith

Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing, 2003

The context of this book is the continuing prevalence of poverty. It remains widespread, even in advanced societies. The book explains the consequences of mechanisms such as the social fund, put in placed by the state no deal with unforeseen circumstances which impose an extra burden on already severely limited budgets. Controversial since its introduction in 1988, this book brings together new research and debate on the effect and role of the social fund in relieving poverty and introduces evidence from Europe to allow comparisons with other countries' experience of providing a 'safety net' for their poorest citizens.

TACKLING PENSIONER POVERTY: ENCOURAGING TAKE-UP OF ENTITLEMENTS

Committee of Public Accounts

London: TSO, 2003 (House of Commons papers, session 2002/03: HC 565)

Examines action taken by the Department of Work and Pensions and the Pensions Service to tackle barriers to benefits take-up by pensioners. Emphasizes the importance of producing clear explanatory literature to inform pensioners about benefits available, and of finding imaginative ways of communicating with them. The Department and the Pensions Service should work in collaboration with other agencies to disseminate information. Application processes should be simplified so that people do not have to provide the same information several times to different agencies.