Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill

What the bill does

A Bill to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the potential merits of prohibiting the making of deductions from certain social security benefits within the first six months of a claim, of restricting the making of deductions in cases where a claimant is at risk of hardship, of reducing the maximum proportion of a claim that may be deducted, and of changing the priority order in which debt repayments are recovered by deductions; to require the Secretary of State to report to Parliament on the adequacy of the rate at which social security benefits are paid; to require the Secretary of State to publish a strategy for increasing the availability of free debt and money advice for people claiming social security benefits; and for connected purposes.

Progress through Parliament

What 2nd reading means, and what happens next

Second reading is the first full debate on the principle of the bill. The House votes on whether it should proceed at all.

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Read the full guide to this stage: What happens at second reading of a bill

Questions about the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill

What stage is the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill at?

The Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill is currently at 2nd reading in the UK Parliament.

Has the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill become law?

Not yet. A bill becomes law only when it has passed both Houses and received Royal Assent. The Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill is currently at 2nd reading.

What happens next to the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill?

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Who sponsored the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill?

The Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill was sponsored by David Linden.

When was the Welfare Benefits (Adequacy, Debt and Deductions) Bill introduced?

It was introduced to Parliament on 13 December 2023, at first reading.

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