A report, written by the left-of-centre Bevan Foundation think tank, says A coalition of charities are “motivated by a shared concern that thousands more people across Wales will be plunged into poverty”. Tens of thousands of people in Wales are “on the edge of a cliff” because of impending reforms to the welfare system. The changes being introduced in Westminster could put stress on the Welsh government. The “vast majority” of benefit recipients will see their incomes cut, it says.
Cuts Watch Wales says people on out-of-work benefits will face “tough sanctions” if they do not look for jobs at a time when unemployment is already high. This week’s unemployment figures showed yet another steep rise in the numbers of people without work in the UK. We now have the highest rates of unemployment for over 17 years but even this is only the official figure and the true numbers of unemployed are much closer to 6.7 million. A shocking 1.4 million of those are young people between 18-25 years of age. Women and disabled people are particularly affected by unemployment. Added to this many people classed as working and not included in these figures are in part-time, casual and insecure jobs.
Wales has the highest proportion of people claiming Employment and Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit, which is paid to those who cannot work because of illness or impairment. Some disabled people will see a “substantial drop in income” and changes to housing benefit “will mean almost all tenants are worse off”,
Cutting incomes will also take money out of the economy, leading to further job losses and the closure of services, the report warns. It says: “People in Wales face the toughest challenge to their well-being for decades from a combination of economic crisis, job losses, a squeeze on earnings and rising prices.”
It points out that their recipients have not yet felt most of the changes to benefits being introduced by the UK government. Read the report
Labour AM Mark Drakeford said the cuts would mount up and affect the poorest people and places. “It has this sort of rolling cumulative effect on individuals, families and whole communities,” he said. Continue reading the main story
We are all on a downward spiral. Leanne Wood Plaid cymru A.M Says “This will mean that more people in Wales will have to choose between heating and eating. More children will be pushed into poverty. More local businesses will go to the wall because the disposable income of their customers has been taken away by the UK government”.
Ffeirio Says! Tory reforms are cutting to hard and to deep. They should stop and think about the damage they are doing to the vulnerable.
Let`s Debate this issue.
Do you give the Coalition reforms the thumbs up or thumbs down over this matter? Or are you not so sure. Maybe your 50/50 Let us know what you think about this issue?
My thumbs pointing …Down The welfare system should “support the vulnerable… Yet obviously should offer a route back into an active and participating role in our society”. Nobody is saying that welfare reform is not needed or required, & Yes we need to break a cycle of welfare dependency.
Multiple governments over many decades have created welfare Dependency. Its here, it exists just like any other addiction we have become accustomed to it’s appeal. But therein lies the problem. We created it it exists and therefore we have to deal with it as humanely & sympathetically as possible. Introduce a gradual reduction in benefit entitlement spread over decades not months. bring sections of the reforms in separately not all at once.
Try telling a Tory that you can’t get a square peg in a round hole. The reply get a bigger hammer and smashes the hell out of it. The simple fact is there is not enough jobs out there to meet the demands.
But what the Tories are trying to achieve is based simply & wholly on party ideology. Instigated Under the disguise of much needed austerity savings. They are determined to completely dismantle the welfare system. and would prefer the system like that in existence in America i.e., No System. That is why the chancellor keeps bleating on about how the coffers are empty in the run up to the budget in an attempt to sway public support as they prepare to turn the screw even tighter.