In March, the chancellor announced significant cuts to disability benefits in the UK. The news has been met with criticism by those receiving disability benefits and by many charities and organisations that fear these cuts will create even greater demand for their already stretched services.
We can’t help but be concerned about the potential these cuts have to push even more families into poverty. It’s predicted that as many as three million households will lose income as a result – causing as many as a quarter of a million people (including 50,000 children) to experience poverty by 2029-30.
‘Catastrophic for disabled people’
There has been an outcry from homelessness, disability and anti-poverty charities since the cuts were announced. Some have gone as far as to call it a ‘violation of human rights’. Disability charity Scope described the cuts as a ‘catastrophe for disabled people’s living standards and independence ’.
Anti-poverty charity Z2K’s chief executive commented, ‘These shocking and dangerous proposals would have a devastating effect on families who are already living in poverty. The plans make a mockery of the government’s commitments to tackle child poverty and the widespread reliance on food banks.’