The Universal Credit represents a “significant challenge” to low-income families and is likely to affect women “disproportionately”, according to a JRF report.
A single, household-level payment for benefits risks harming children’s well-being, reducing gender equality, and increasing vulnerability to financial abuse.
As the details emerge of the government’s big ticket welfare reform, the introduction of Universal Credit, it looks as if for once the hubristic language might be justified.
It is still very far from certain whether the government’s Universal Credit proposals will be able to deliver its aim of a simpler, less complex welfare system.
Last week’s welfare reform white paper included the following graph, claiming to show that “many households will receive more under Universal Credit than under the current system”; at first viewing, the graph does appear to show small weekly gains for those in lower income deciles, and insignificant losses for those higher up the income distribution. But all is not as it seems.
As the debate rolls on about UBI, we look at the proven benefits of a welfare scheme that provides a level of economic security to everyone and how the evidence so far does not necessarily support critics’ concerns.
44% of respondents support the idea of a universal basic income compared to 23% who oppose it.
The politicians supporting this motion included many Labour PMs, Welsh AMs, peers and councillors calling for Universal Basic Income (UBI) in their areas.
Beth Winter MP is making the case for a Universal Basic Income and pushing for Labour to get behind that policy
Westminster party leaders demand a ‘Recovery UBI’ to support the millions who ‘slip through the cracks’ of the government’s income support schemes.
