Work Incentives and Universal Credit : Reform of the Benefit System in the United Kingdom

Jon Pareliusseni iOECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

关键词: benefit system;    inequality;    welfare reform;    work incentives;    poverty;    United Kingdom;    second earners;    Universal credit;    lone parents;    child care;   

DOI  :  https://doi.org/10.1787/5k49lcn89rkf-en

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: OECD iLibrary

【 摘 要 】

Under the Universal Credit reform, the main means-tested benefits except the Council Tax Benefit will be pooled into one single benefit with one single taper rate. The reform will give people better incentives to work, reduce complexity and contribute to reducing poverty. The reform could reduce the number of workless households by between 45 000 and 240 000 and increase labour supply by the equivalent of 15 000-85 000 full-time employees. Increased take-up and increased entitlements for low income families will further reduce poverty and increase equality. However, the cost of childcare remains high even after taking childcare benefits into account. Despite significant improvements, childcare expenses will continue to be a hurdle to progress in work for second earners and lone parents, even after the Universal Credit reform.