Almost 2 million pushed into poverty by benefit reform

Mon,21 April 2014
News Equality & Rights

Some 1.75 million households in Great Britain have seen their incomes cut in the last three years as a result of benefit reforms, according to a new report by Oxfam and the New Policy Institute reveals.

The report, Multiple Cuts for the Poorest Families, warns that wide-ranging cuts are changing the shape of welfare support at a time when rising prices are making it harder for families to make ends meet. As a result, disabled people, carers, job seekers and single parents are being pushed deeper into poverty.

In the last year alone, 400,000 households have been pushed further into poverty by cuts to housing benefit or council tax support - households affected by both of these cuts typically lose around £18 per week. Mark Goldring, Oxfam Chief Executive, said:
"This is the latest evidence of a perfect storm blowing massive holes in the safety net which is supposed to stop people falling further into poverty. We are already seeing people turning to food banks and struggling with rent, council tax, childcare and travel costs to job centres.  At a time when the five richest families in the UK have the same wealth as the bottom 20 percent of the population it is unacceptable that the poorest are paying such a heavy price."

Oxfam is calling on the Government to determine what the absolute minimum level of support should be for households in different circumstances. It must be high enough to mean that those reliant upon it are not forced to walk the breadline. Multiple Cuts for the Poorest Families is available @ http://policy-practice.oxfam.org.uk/publications/multiple-cuts-for-the-p...
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/media-centre/press-releases/2014/04/almost-2-mil...