Our vision
Social security
Policies in this section only affect the UK as a whole unless specified.
We believe that the main issue with the UK’s social security system is its complexity. Therefore, this plan seeks to simplify the system to ensure more people who need help from the government receive it. It creates a level below which no one can fall whilst also reducing the costs the existing system spends on administration.
A Guaranteed Minimum Income. A Guaranteed Minimum Income ensures that anyone out of work or on a low income will receive enough money to live above the poverty line. If you start to earn money from a part time job or one that pays below a living wage, the Guaranteed Minimum Income will decrease by 30p for every £1 earned until an individual is earning a living wage. This means work will always pay more than being on benefits unless you are receiving extra support. The payment itself would be made once per week and would increase during periods of cold weather to pay for heating bills. If possible, we support these payments being decided on a regional level, so payments keep up with the living costs and housing costs in different areas.
This will be available to anyone earning below a living wage, who is over 18 years of age and has below a certain amount in savings. The payments will increase with inflation and there are several circumstances in which the payments will be larger. They need to cover any training, job interviews or travel for NHS treatment people need. It would replace Universal Credit system, housing benefits, jobseekers’ allowance, Income Support, the Cold Weather Payment, the Warm Home Discount Scheme and the Winter Fuel Payment.
Top-up systems
The parental leave top-up. If you have children, the top-up will work so it is either added to statutory paternity pay given to you by your employer or your Guaranteed Minimum Income so it pays a living wage. This will last a year in total although the person giving birth to the child will have an extra 4 weeks off before the child is born. This will be at 90% of normal pay, 25% of which will be paid by the employer and 75% of which will be paid by the government. It will be split between partners with both partners having to take at least 30% of the total time with the rest being split however they want. The first payment will be larger to deal with the initial costs of having a child and after that payments will increase with inflation. They will then reduce as the child gets older and allows for part time parental leave. For those that are on a Guaranteed Minimum Income, after the year comes to an end they will receive a smaller payment at the same rate as child benefits for the next 5 years. This would replace statutory paternity pay, statutory Shared Parental Pay, paternity leave, shared parental leave, child benefits, maternity pay and maternity allowance.
Retirement top-up. The retirement age would be set at 65 for both men and women. When you reach this age, you would receive payments from income tax contributions. Savings made into the Income Tax will be increased with the triple lock formula although private pension funds would be an alternative to this. This would replace the basic state pension and pension credit.
- England and Wales.
Carers top-up. If you are a carer, then you will be able to receive a Guaranteed Minimum Income top-up. This will supplement either your wage or regular Guaranteed Minimum Income payments. This is regardless of age and for any period whilst you are a caregiver. It will top up wages minus costs incurred as a career, so you reach a living wage. This would replace the Carer’s Allowance.
- England, Scotland and Wales.
Bereavement top-up. If a member of your immediate family dies, then you will be able to take Bereavement leave with a Guaranteed Minimum Income for four weeks. There are no maximum savings or earnings to receive this. This will increase with inflation and would replace the bereavement support payment.
Disability top-up. If someone is unable to work due to disability, then they can receive a Guaranteed Minimum Income. We would ink NHS services to this program to assess who is eligible for this payment and how much money they will require. This can include smaller support payments for those in work, a living wage payment for those out of work as a result of injury or disability and payments for those with extra requirements such as equipment or individual carers on top of this if needed. This would also be available to people who are self-employed and are unwell. There is no time or age limit for how long someone can receive this payment and the individual, or if need be, a guardian, will receive the money. Whilst short term conditions would be reassessed based on how long lasting it is likely to be, lifelong disabilities or conditions will not be reassessed. It would replace the disability living allowance, the personal independence payment, Attendance Allowance and the Employment Support Allowance.
Child support top-up. This would top-up a Guaranteed Minimum income with support for anyone who has children. The top-up would be a reformed version of Child Income Support and it would decrease as someone’s income goes up in the same way as a Guaranteed Minimum Income.
Replace the Department for Work and Pensions with a Department for Social Security. The department of work and pensions will be replaced with the smaller department for social security as a Guaranteed Minimum Income means less administrative work.
A social security watchdog. This watchdog would check whether social security, support and benefits payments have been made in full and on time. If they haven’t then they can compel the Department of Work and Pensions to make payments that haven’t been made or compensate those who have missed or received delayed payments.