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Wales Online
22-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Welfare cuts could impact three times as many Welsh households
Welfare cuts could impact three times as many Welsh households The Bevan Foundation says the number of households affected by UK Government cuts to Universal Credit and disability benefit may soar The levels of poverty people in Wales are living in could increase dramatically as a result of the UK Government's planned changes to welfare reform (Image: South Wales Echo ) The levels of poverty people in Wales are living in could increase dramatically as a result of the UK Government's planned changes to welfare payments, a think tank has said. In March, the UK Government announced changes to disability benefits and Universal Credit. There have been repeated concerns about the impact of the proposal, and questions about how it will impact Wales. A report today by thinktank the Bevan Foundation says the number of households affected could more than treble, from 24.5% to 78.4%. Part of the government proposals included measures to get people back to work, with those taken into account, the think tank say it is likely that household affected by the reforms will still be more than twice as likely to be living in poverty once the reforms are fully rolled out than is currently the case. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here The report, by data experts Policy in Practice, found some households set to be over £900 a month worse off Earlier this month, Policy in Practice, said nearly 190,000 people will be affected by the changes to benefits. The Bevan Foundation's Head of Policy (Poverty) Dr Steffan Evans said: "These new findings make for incredibly grim reading. It is clear, that without a rethink, UK Government's proposed reforms to the benefits system will have a particularly severe impact on poverty in Wales, making life harder for thousands of disabled people. "The results highlight just how important the benefits system is in reducing poverty. Whilst the UK Government is right to take action to support disabled people back into work, work can only ever form part of the answer. Article continues below "It is vital that the UK Government maintains a strong safety net to ensure people can access the support they need." Deven Ghelani from Policy in Practice, said: "This research lays bare the sharp rise in hardship many disabled people in Wales could soon face. Local authorities need to prepare for the increase in poverty these reforms will trigger, "The data also shows they are not powerless. "By using insights like these, councils can target support, plan services more effectively, and advocate for the resources their communities will urgently need." The UK Government has failed to give any figures for how its welfare changes will impact Wales despite repeated questions and requests for data. There is acceptance that Wales has a high level of people who claim benefits and WalesOnline asked the Department of Work and Pensions, the Treasury and Wales Office on the day of the Spring Statement how many people would be affected in Wales. None of them could answer. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, speaks during a press conference in the briefing room at Downing Street following the announcement of the Spring Statement (Image: Getty Images ) When WalesOnline interviewed the chancellor on her visit to Wales the day after the Spring Statement, she said it was "not usual" to give figures for Wales, but they were looking at the request. You can see her comment here. The Welsh Government was not able to provide figures either. Despite subsequent requests, no-one has been able to answer. It led to a row between the two Labour administrations in Wales and London, you can catch up on that here. Eluned Morgan has said she is "really worried" about how the changes might impact people. Article continues below Wales' health minister Jeremy Miles also said it was not a decision the Welsh Government would have made and said the decision was "wrong". His comments were part of a wider interview.
South Wales Argus
22-05-2025
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Report finds benefit reform could increase poverty in Wales
According to research carried out by Policy in Practice in conjunction with the Bevan Foundation, the UK Government's planned changes to disability benefits and Universal Credit could lead to a more than threefold increase in poverty rates among affected Welsh households—from 24.5 per cent up to 78.4 per cent. In March, the UK Government announced reforms to disability benefits and Universal Credit, leading to widespread concerns about the potential increase in poverty levels. The Policy in Practice report projected that these changes could affect nearly 190,000 people in Wales, or 6.1 per cent of the population, with a loss to the Welsh economy of around £470 million. It has now been found that these changes could dramatically increase the levels of poverty among the affected households in Wales. According to the same report, more disabled people are also set to fall into poverty as a result of these changes. Even though the government's efforts to get more disabled people into work may lessen the impact of the cuts, the study suggests that affected households will still be more than twice as likely to be living in poverty compared to the current rates. Commenting on the findings, Dr Steffan Evans, head of policy (poverty) at the Bevan Foundation, said: "These new findings make for incredibly grim reading. "It is clear that, without a rethink, the UK Government's proposed reforms to the benefits system will have a particularly severe impact on poverty in Wales, making life harder for thousands of disabled people." Deven Ghelani, director and founder of Policy in Practice, urged local authorities to prepare for the rising levels of poverty. He said: "This research lays bare the sharp rise in hardship many disabled people in Wales could soon face. "Local authorities need to prepare for the increase in poverty these reforms will trigger, but the data also shows they are not powerless. "By using insights like these, councils can target support."
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
500,000 households could be missing out on free TV licence under little-known DWP rule
Around half a million households across the country could be missing out on a free TV licence, worth £174.50 a year, according to a new report An obscure regulation is leaving half a million households in the dark about their entitlement to a free £174.50 annual TV licence. Campaigners from Policy in Practice are sounding the alarm that over 500,000 UK homes could be exempt from the fee but haven't yet staked their claim. Eligibility for a free licence hinges on claiming Pension Credit, yet data reveals a staggering 500,000 eligible individuals aren't tapping into this benefit, potentially missing out on savings of roughly £3,900 annually. Deven Ghelani, the director at Policy in Practice, highlighted the issue: "There are almost half a million people over 75 missing out on the free TV licence, most of them because they aren't claiming pension credit when they could. People on pension credit have to first be aware that they are eligible for a free TV licence, and then they have to apply for one. Policy in Practice's local authority partners have contacted the BBC about auto-enrolment, and we are hoping for a positive response." To legally watch live television across networks like the BBC, ITV, and Sky, viewers must purchase a TV licence. However, exemptions exist under the current framework. For instance, those over 75 with pension credit can dodge the licence fee, pocketing an extra £174.50 each year. Astonishingly, there are about 425,000 over-75s who qualify for pension credit based on income but haven't claimed the benefit, reports the Liverpool Echo. "There are almost half a million people over 75 missing out on the free TV licence, most of them because they aren't claiming pension credit when they could. People on pension credit have to first be aware that they are eligible for a free TV licence, and then they have to apply for one. Policy in Practice's local authority partners have contacted the BBC about auto-enrolment, and we are hoping for a positive response." Additionally, there are 50,000 individuals already on pension credit who aren't taking advantage of the subsidised TV Licence they're entitled to. To apply for a free TV licence, head over to or alternatively, give them a ring at 0300 790 6071 to apply by phone. TV Licensing has stated that it "routinely promotes the concessions and support available in the letters we send to customers, directly during calls to our customer service line, and as part of our communications campaigns and social media output". Pension Credit is up for grabs for those earning less than £11,500 annually in basic income, placing them among the nation's poorest. How much Pension Credit could I get? Pension Credit comes in 2 parts. You might be eligible for one or both parts. What is Guarantee Credit? Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level. This level is currently: £227.10 if you're single £346.60 if you're a couple. What is Savings Credit? Savings Credit is extra money if you've got some savings or if your income is higher than the basic State Pension. It's available to people who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. You could get up to: £17.30 extra per week if you're single £19.36 extra per week if you're a couple. By claiming Pension Credit, you might become eligible for other benefits too, such as help with health and housing costs Can I get Guarantee Credit? You might be eligible for Guarantee Credit if you've reached State Pension age. This is currently 66 for both men and women. If you've reached State Pension age, you can claim Guarantee Credit if your weekly income is less than: £227.10 if you're single £346.60 if you're a couple. Even if your weekly income is higher than these thresholds, you could still claim Guarantee Credit if you meet one of the following criteria: you're a carer you have a severe disability you have certain housing costs, such as service charges you're responsible for a child or young person who usually lives with you. Can I get Savings Credit? If you reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016 – or if you're a couple and both of you did – you might be eligible to claim Savings Credit. There isn't a savings limit for Pension Credit. However, if you have over £10,000 in savings, this will affect how much you receive. If you're a mixed-age couple (meaning only one of you is over State Pension age), you normally have to claim Universal Credit until you've both reached State Pension age. Then you might be eligible to claim Pension Credit as a couple.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Ill and disabled people will be made ‘invisible' by UK benefit cuts, say experts
Hundreds of thousands of seriously ill and disabled people will become 'invisible' and cut adrift from local support services as a result of the government's £5bn programme of disability benefit cuts, experts have warned. Claimants who do not qualify for personal independence payment (Pip) or incapacity benefits would lose a 'marker of need' with local councils and NHS bodies, making it 'nearly impossible' for them to access help, said the consultancy Policy in Practice. This would 'effectively erase some of the most vulnerable people' from the system – including those with life-limiting illnesses including cancer, multiple sclerosis and lung conditions – while making it harder for care services to deliver preventive support More than 230,000 disabled people will lose access to Pip and the incapacity element of universal credit as a result of the changes, losing at least £8,100 a year, Policy in Practice estimates in a briefing. Nearly 600,000 more who do not claim universal credit will lose or not qualify in future for Pip. On top of the direct financial hit, disabled people will struggle for visibility in local care systems that use disability benefit awards to deploy support and protection, from housing and council tax relief to debt enforcement safeguards. Loss of disability benefits means they will lose priority status on council housing waiting lists and will be deprived of priority status in homelessness assessments, leaving them at 'greater risk of prolonged homelessness', the briefing says. The invisibility within local care systems of seriously ill people who manage to live independently but who would be unable to access disability-benefit connected support is 'one of the most troubling consequences' of the changes, it says. 'Up to now, the benefits system has always recognised and supported those too ill to work. This will change with these reforms with the unprecedented consequence of illness being unrecognised, unsupported and invisible. However, ignoring illness does not make it go away,' it adds. It says the government is not listening carefully enough to the people whose lives will be 'upended' by the measures, or consulting properly on the knock-on effects of the benefit cuts on NHS services and council social care and housing departments. Deven Ghelani, the director of Policy in Practice, said: 'For the first time ever, sick and ill claimants will be invisible within the benefits system and the cost savings [to the Treasury] are likely to be reduced as the cost of support for the most vulnerable is passed to other agencies.' More than 3 million UK households will be hit by the changes to disability and incapacity benefits starting from next year, with some losing £10,000 annually. Official estimates forecast 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will be pushed into poverty as a result. The changes to Pip, announced in a green paper last month, refocus eligibility on claimants with the highest needs for daily living support. They will result in 800,000 current and future claimants losing an average of £4,500 by the end of the decade. Ministers have insisted the changes are essential to overhaul a 'broken benefits system' that denies job and skills support to ill and disabled people who can work. But they have struggled to convince MPs that the cuts are not simply crude budget savings aimed at the worst-off. The Labour chair of the House of Commons work and pensions select committee, Debbie Abrahams, said the cuts risked creating greater ill-health among the UK's poorest households and pushing many disabled people further from the job market. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Abrahams said the changes had triggered widespread alarm. 'I met a woman while door-knocking in my constituency whose daughter has multiple sclerosis and could not cook unaided. She was worried her daughter would lose Pip. It's creating huge anxiety,' she said. She called on the government to pause the changes to ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny of all aspects of the green paper, including changes to Pip eligibility, which ministers insist are not up for consultation. The Commons work and pensions committee will call Department for Work and Pensions ministers to give evidence to its disability cuts mini-inquiry, due to be held over the next few weeks. It will focus on the impact of the changes on claimant health, employment and poverty. Abrahams, the MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said there was deep unease over the cuts across the parliamentary Labour party. 'I wouldn't want to use the language of revolt. But there are deep concerns. To be fair, DWP ministers are in listening mode, but this isn't an issue that's going away.' A DWP spokesperson said: 'We must fix our broken benefits system so it is fairer on the taxpayer, supports those who can work to find employment, and protects those who can't.' They added: 'Our approach will always be underlined by the fundamental principle of treating people with dignity and respect, which is why we will continue to deliver a social security system for those with severe health conditions and we will protect the income of those who will never be able to work.'
