May 15th 2020, 10:05

GREAT VALUE AND VITAL FOR ITS UNSURPASSED CLARITY ON WELFARE BENEFITS AND TAX CREDITS FOR 2020/2021

An appreciation by Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers and Phillip Taylor MBE, Head of Chambers, Reviews Editor, “The Barrister”, and Mediator


This book on welfare benefits and tax credits maintains the highest standards of the Child Poverty Action Group’s annual handbook publications. It is a thorough statement of what is available to applicants, and it is an incredibly detailed work at a reasonable price. Do begin by reading the updated Foreword written by Alison Garnham who is Chief Executive of the CPAG.

Alison writes that “with families under unprecedented financial pressure, the welfare rights movement is more important than ever”. And, it remains clear that things will not change in the future, either. We will be battling the effects of Covid-19 for some years to come. It will be the continuing role of CPAG to “advocate for changes that will improve the social security system, and for well-funded, expert advice services that people need”. Therefore, we are most fortunate to have these handbooks readily available at such a difficult time for all families in the 2020s.

The handbook is now 2,000 pages long for the year 2020/2021 and there are twenty authors involved in putting the work together. There are 12 parts separated into 77 chapters. Every chapter has a “notes” section at the end of the chapter as effective footnotes which will assist further research detail for those advising applicants. There are also ten appendices which offer useful practical tips, additional information, and advice.

This book remains the essential resource for anyone giving welfare rights advice. We believe the new 22nd edition is the most comprehensive guide to what is still “an increasingly complex social security system.” And nothing much will change during the dramatic and sudden changes we are experiencing to social and working life as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

There are some additional services which CPAG is offering during the pandemic. It is supporting the “advice community” including those who use the handbook by publishing a series of briefings detailing the changes to the benefit system made in response to Covid-19. These briefings are in addition to a new website which CPAG have launched called www.askcpag.org.uk.

This site offers an improved digital version of the current handbook and much extra information. Do visit the site on a free trial basis. It is fully searchable and regularly updated throughout the year and a great new service for us. Also, it has decision-making tools and appeal letter generators which will help both applicants and advisers obtain “fast and accurate results”.

Alison concludes with these words: “although securing change is slower than we would like, each small success that improves the experience of claimants shows the value” of the handbook. How right she is- these titles are vital for what will be an increasing number of applicants in the coming years as we come to grips with the pandemic.

The publication date of this paperback twenty-second edition is cited as at 23rd April 2020. The law covered in this book was correct on 2nd March 2020 and includes regulations laid up to this date.