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.
Preliminary Agenda
The schedule below is a brief overview of the conference program and has not been finalized.
A more detailed agenda is forthcoming.
Day 1: Lessons from Universal Credit (full day)
- Universal Credit 101
- Implementation
- Design choices and trade-offs
- Real-time income and the employer’s side
- Policy and politics
Confirmed speakers
- Mathew Akrigg, Policy and Advisory Leader, Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals
- Stephen Brien, Chair, Social Security Advisory Committee
- Neil Couling, Services and Fraud Director General, Department for Work and Pensions
- Charlotte Pickles, Chief Executive, Re:State
- Nicholas Timmins, Senior Fellow, Institute for Government
Day 2: Adapting Lessons for the US (half day)
Discussion groups by policy area (topics are subject to change)
- SNAP
- Tax credits
- Medicaid
- Wage reporting
- Social Security / open-ended
Confirmed discussion group leaders
- Allison Abbott, Joan Shorenstein Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School
- Michael Linden, VP of Policy and Research at the Economic Security Project
- Hannah Maniates, Director of Medicaid Programming, National Association of Medicaid Directors
- Rebecca Piazza, Executive Director, Safety Net Strategy, Code for America
- Misu Tasnim, Senior Advisor for EHR Strategy, State of Maryland
- Luke Timmons, Interim Deputy Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, US Dept. of Labor