Andrew Mackley

Feb 21, 2024 | commonslibrary.parliament.uk | Andrew Mackley

From the 1940s until April 2010, the State Pension age (SPA) in the United Kingdom was 60 for women and 65 for men. Legislation to increase the SPA has been introduced in several stages since the 1990s. In particular, the Pensions Act 1995 legislated to increase the SPA for women from 60 to 65 in stages between April 2010 and 2020, to bring it into line with that for men. The Pensions Act 2011 brought forward the increase in women’s SPA to 65 to November 2018. These changes have been controversial.

Sep 1, 2023 | commonslibrary.parliament.uk | Andrew Mackley |Francis Hobson |Steven Kennedy

Three recent e-petitions called for changes to disability benefit assessments in the UK. For each of these, Government responses explained current policy on disability benefit assessments, and noted recent reforms and plans for change. This debate pack provides further background on the issues raised.

Jul 18, 2023 | commonslibrary.parliament.uk | Andrew Mackley |Francis Hobson |Steven Kennedy

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has the power to make direct deductions from benefit payments to pay certain debts and costs owed by claimants. This can include money owed to the Government due to a benefit overpayment or loan, or to a third party such as a landlord, utility provider, local authority, and the courts. Universal Credit (UC) broadly replicates the rules which apply in the legacy benefits it replaces.