{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/5ea004d9fbcc383829c71657/60476f52e091cf103399e3d4?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Universal Credit: The future of benefits?","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/5ea004d9fbcc383829c71657/1615309637683-e80ebb0eaf1ac13070220303f4b48461.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Universal Credit is a benefit for working-age people, which combines six existing benefits payments into one payment. Launched in 2013, there are now about 5 million households claiming Universal Credit in the UK. What was the thinking behind this new policy? Has it been successful? And how has COVID affected the trajectory of Universal Credit?</p><p><br></p><p>This week, Paul speaks with Charlotte Pickles, Director of Reform and a member of the Social Security Advisory Committee, and Tom Waters, Senior Research Economist at IFS and expert on benefits.</p><p><br></p><p>Support the IFS: https://www.ifs.org.uk/about/membership/individual</p>","author_name":"Institute for Fiscal Studies"}