The UK government has announced changes to universal credit, personal independence payment and contributory benefits. Carri Swann examines the plans, set out in DWP’s March 2025 Pathways to Work Green Paper and amended in the later Spring Statement, and explains how soon they come into effect.

As the Timms review begins and the PIP rules come under scrutiny, Carri Swann looks at a test that is not always well understood but can be key to entitlement.

A new piece of legislation purports to let claimants try paid or voluntary work without prompting a reassessment for UC, ESA or PIP. Carri Swann uses case examples to consider the implications of the new rules.

Jessica Strode considers how jointly owned property not occupied as the home is valued for universal credit.

Jun Pang discusses new rules in the Upper Tribunal to name social security claimants in its judgments.

Simon Osborne looks at rules regarding the abolition of income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).

The abolition of the two-child limit is a welcome victory in the fight against child poverty. Those who have been or would have been affected by the limit will be much better protected. That said, because of the interaction of child elements with other rules, in some cases a newly awarded element for a third or subsequent child might not make as big a difference as for others. Mark Willis explains.

By April 2026, legacy benefits had for most intents and purposes been replaced by universal credit (UC). The overwhelming majority of remaining legacy benefit awards have ended, and in most cases legacy benefits are formally abolished. But a few awards linger, at least for a while. Simon Osborne explains.

Carri Swann explains who counts as a ‘pre-2026 claimant’ and therefore escapes the April 2026 cut to the amount of the UC LCWRA element.