Coronavirus and Social Security Entitlement in the UK

Abstract

The social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have prompted urgent wide-ranging reforms to social security across the UK, most of which have been implemented via secondary legislation. In a number of respects the changes that have been made have extended support, either by relaxing some of the stricter elements of conditionality or by raising needs thresholds or allowance rates. With the shutdown that has affected large parts of the economy, huge numbers of the working age population have had to turn to the welfare state for support, swelling the numbers of benefit claimants. Changes have also been made to the processes for claiming and the arrangements for the determination of appeals. This article examines the key changes that have been made and assesses their implications, both immediate and over the longer term.

Keywords: coronavirus, social security, universal credit, digitisation, social welfare, appeals