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.
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"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.
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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.
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