The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) and the Institute for Government (IfG) held two webinars in October 2020 to assess what lessons could be learnt and what issues should be addressed in response to COVID-19.
The report starts with 2 propositions reviewing the immediate and likely longer-term impact of the pandemic. It provides a brief account of how the benefits system has come to be the way it is, before making recommendations for changes both to that system and on the measures needed to tackle the crucial task of getting people back into work.
The report makes 3 sets of recommendations as steps towards improving the structure of the UK’s system of benefit and employment support in the light of issues that COVID-19 has highlighted.