Tuesday, October 10, 2017

It is going to get worse

Half a million more people will live in poverty if the Government maintains its benefits freeze, new research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has warned.

Campbell Robb, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "People who are just managing at best are being hit in the pocket by the freeze on benefits and tax credits. It means millions of families are finding life even harder to make ends meet - whether paying for the weekly food shop, covering energy bills or finding enough money to pay the rent. "

The data predicts that in 2019/20, when the freeze is due to end, a couple with two children in receipt of Universal Credit will be £16 a week worse off than they would have been had benefits kept up with prices since 2010.

The research also found a lone parent with two children is £13 per week worse off.
Both figures are the same whether out-of-work or working full time for the National Living Wage, meaning the freeze will result in 470,000 more people living in poverty in 2020/21.

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