The Draft Universal Credit Regulations 2013; the Benefit Cap (Housing Benefit) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/2994); the Draft Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013

Book excerpt: The Social Security Advisory Committee undertook a public consultation exercise as part of their review of universal credit and related regulations and reported that the majority of respondents were broadly supportive of the Government's ambitions to simplify the benefits system. The Committee made 36 recommendations across six broad themes: overarching issues; self employment; housing; the benefit cap; conditionality and sanctions; and claims and payments. The Government brings forward regulations which address a number of the Committee's concerns and make improvements to the way in which universal credit will operate. These include the detailed arrangements for self-employed people, provisions to pay housing cost support for those living in supported exempt accommodation outside of universal credit, and provisions to provide alternative payment arrangements to support claimants as they move to universal credit. The Government also accepts the Committee's recommendations to monitor and evaluate the impact of the implementation of universal credit. The Department is also assembling an export advisory group to help with the evaluation of universal credit