2026 Conference on Modernizing Benefits Administration
Fifteen years ago, the United Kingdom had a benefit system similar to the US, with a hodgepodge of benefit programs and (often) annual verification of program eligibility and benefit amount. The premise of the conference is that since then the United Kingdom embarked on and has recently completed a set of benefits modernization reforms. Under the new system, there is a single benefit with a consistent marginal tax rate. Eligibility and amounts are updated monthly, based on earnings information employers report to the government every time a paycheck is sent. Several speakers from the United Kingdom will come to Chicago to share lessons from this journey.
To ensure the conference is a collaborative space with open discussion, the Conference on Modernizing Benefits Administration will observe Chatham House Rules.
This event is by invitation only. If you are interested in attending or have any questions, please contact bfi-events@uchicago.edu.
All times are listed in CT
Agenda
Registration and Breakfast
9th Floor Foyer
Universal Credit 101
Speaker: Stephen Brien, Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee
Discussant: Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
Break
Implementation
Speaker: Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
Discussant: Neil Couling, Services and Fraud Director General, Department for Work and Pensions
Break
Design Choices and Trade-offs
Speaker: Neil Couling, Services and Fraud Director General, Department for Work and Pensions
Discussant: Stephen Brien, Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee
Lunch
First Floor Dining Room
Hindsight from the 2020s
Speakers: Neil Couling, Services and Fraud Director General, Department for Work and Pensions
Stephen Brien, Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee
Discussant: Charlotte Pickles, Chief Executive, Re:State
Break
Real-time Income and the Employer’s Side
Speaker: Mathew Akrigg, Policy and Advisory Leader, Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
Break
Policy and Politics
Speaker: Charlotte Pickles, Chief Executive, Re:State
Discussant: Peter Ganong, University of Chicago
Reception
Conference Dinner
Registration and Breakfast
9th Floor Foyer
Kickoff
The Peter May Boardroom, 9th Floor
Transition to Breakout Rooms
Breakout Groups
Discussion groups by policy area, each with discussion leader(s)
Wage ReportingLeader: Luke Timmons, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, US Dept. of Labor
Tax Credits
Leaders: Allison Abbott, Joan Shorenstein Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
Michael Linden, VP of Policy and Research, Economic Security Project
Medicaid
Leaders: Hannah Maniates, Director of Medicaid Programming, National Association of Medicaid Directors
Justin Brown, Former Secretary, Oklahoma Department of Health and Human Services
SNAP
Leader: Rebecca Piazza, Executive Director, Safety Net Strategy, Code for America
Open-Ended, Including Social Security
Leader: Misu Tasnim, Senior Advisor for EHR Strategy, State of Maryland
Red Team
Leader: Molly Phillips-Nugent, Managing Director, Sojourn Strategies
Transition from Breakout Rooms
Summary and Open Discussion
Conference Concludes
Lunch
First Floor Dining Room