Details relating to the aforementioned act can be found here

Background

As well as introducing Universal Credit, the Welfare Reform Act 2012 makes amendments to jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, income support, tax credits, industrial injuries benefit, housing benefit and the social fund. It also provides for the abolition of council tax benefit from April 2013 (to be replaced by local council tax schemes) and sets out the framework for the introduction of the personal independence payment (PIP) to replace disability living allowance for people of working age. Various other social security changes are also implemented by the Act including the benefit cap.

The measures in the Act are intended to support the Government’s commitments to increase employment; slow the growth of the welfare budget to help achieve a more sustainable welfare system; eliminate child poverty and improve the life chances of children; and support the policy of rewarding hard work while increasing fairness with working households.

Impact Assessments in relation to welfare policies within this Act were published on 20 July 2015.

Statutory duties to report

The purpose of the statutory duties to report is to mandate regular updates from the Government on these key areas.

Full employment reporting obligation

This duty requires the Secretary of State to report annually on progress towards full employment, and the report will set out the interpretation of full employment for these purposes.