Until his 2025 retirement, Gary Vaux managed a team of local authority benefit and debt advice workers. He was also chair of the Social Security Advisers Group at the Local Government Association, and an active member of the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) operational strategy engagement forum as a result. He also worked closely with the DWP on universal credit implementation, health transformation, safeguarding and regular ad hoc consultations.
For rather a lot of years, he has advised, written, trained and broadcast on welfare benefit rules and policies. As well as writing benefit guides for Community Care Inform, he has written or edited benefits information for Carers UK, Fostering Network, Family Rights Group, Law Society, Cerebra, Association of Public Authority Deputies, MND Association, Crohns and Colitis UK, and many other charities, local authorities, housing providers, solicitors and publishers. He is a trustee of LASA, which produces Rightsnet, the leading online benefits resource.
His outside interests include his family, Spurs and Bruce Springsteen but don't include bowls, Countdown or Werthers Originals, as he remains involved in advice work post-retirement.
Answers key questions on parental bereavement leave and statutory parental bereavement pay, introduced in 2020, including how much it is, who it is for, how long it lasts and other key points to watch.
This guide provides in-depth information on tax, national insurance and benefits when fostering or adopting a child. It also contains brief information about other sources of funding such as section 17 Children Act money, aftercare support, child arrangement orders, special guardianship and guardian’s allowance.
Answers all key questions on personal independence payment, including how much it is, who it is for, what the age limits are and other key points to watch.
This guide looks at how a young person aged 16-21 can get universal credit. It also covers income support, jobseeker's allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefit and other types of cash help.
Answers all key questions on working tax credit, including how much it is, who it is for, what the effect on other benefits are and other key points to watch.
Answers all key questions on widowed parent’s allowance, including how much it is, who it is for, what the age limits are and other key points to watch.
Gary Vaux
