Bevan Foundation work inspires Welsh Government action

Welsh Government work to streamline Welsh Benefits progresses

For a number of years the Bevan Foundation have been calling on the Welsh Government to establish a Welsh Benefits System. At present, the Welsh Government and Welsh local authorities provide a number of different schemes which complement Universal Credit or legacy benefits. These schemes range from the provision of free school meals to Council Tax support.

At present, each of these schemes is viewed as discrete from each other, meaning that claimants often have to make multiple claims to receive all of the additional Welsh support they are entitled to. The Foundation has argued that pulling together the various schemes into effective, coherent and seamless Welsh Benefits System would make life easier for people on low income in Wales and help to lift them out of poverty.

Over recent months significant progress has been made to turn this vision into a reality, with the Foundation’s work at the heart of the process.

In February the Welsh Government published its Welsh Benefits Charter, whilst the Welsh Government have also established a steering group to oversee its work to streamline Welsh Benefits. The Foundation is pleased to be able to support this process, with our Head of Policy (Poverty) being a member of the steering group. 

A new project overview, published by the Welsh Government highlights just how influential the Bevan Foundation’s work has been in this area. The project overview makes explicit reference to our research and identified how we have set out practical steps that could be taken to make a Welsh Benefits System a reality. 

The Foundation looks forward to continuing working with the Welsh Government on this work, work that we believe will make a real difference to the lives of people in Wales.