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Executive Summary

The Welfare Reform Act 2012 is the most substantial legislative change in the British welfare system since the 1940s. It replaces a large number of different types of benefits with a single benefit, called Universal Credit, with the aim of making the system fairer, easier to enforce, and one that encourages people to work. It will be implemented in stages over the next five years. It is anticipated that it will significantly reduce the amount of money that the government is required to spend on social benefits.

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Last Updated: 05/16/2012