Karen Barker

Against this backdrop, it’s not surprising a majority feel cutting disability benefits does more harm than good.
Q: But what to do, given fiscal constraints?
A: A majority would also support further wealth taxes, to fund public services.

Our latest @financialfairness.bsky.social Tracker is out today, and it shows that the cost-of-living crisis is far from over. We’ve seen an increase in households in serious difficulty and a decrease in those who are financially secure.

Will the new pensions bill make a difference to low earners? Will the new pensions bill make a difference to low earners?

Will the new #pensions bill make a difference to low earners?

Our Policy Advisor ‪@andrewharrop.bsky.social‬ has a new blog which considers the four changes in the bill that could make a real difference to low-income Britain.

Read it here: buff.ly/YDDxSCy

Please bring us your ideas for analysis to inform the public debate ahead of next year’s election in Scotland 👇👇👇

Richard Fuller MP tells the @brightblueuk.bsky.social Living Standards conference that we need better accountability of our regulators to ensure good delivery for the public. He suggests a Commons Committee tasked with an annual review of how they are performing.

Really looking forward to hearing new ideas! 🤓

A new report out from @carers-uk.bsky.social today examines the unnecessary complexity of carers’ benefits for pensioners.

65,000 carers are likely to be eligible for Pension Credit, but are not receiving it and charities are calling for a simpler application process.

Read more: buff.ly/wrZfKta

Savings are critical to financial well-being, but capital rules in UC risk undermining efforts to improve the UK’s dire savings rate.

Employment support should treat people like adults from the jump 👏

Tomorrow marks the last tax credit payments made, ending a policy that had a major impact on the UK social security system. Professor @donaldhirsch.bsky.social reflects on what should learn from them by looking back and forward to their impact and legacy. Read the full briefing here: buff.ly/HalNLng

“Initially I received no notification, then suddenly was bombarded with emails and messages from [my energy supplier]. When I tried to resolve the dispute on several occasions, I received hostility and unwillingness to try and help to resolve the problem.” – Expert by experience

“I was expected to live on £0. I had to cut even the most basic costs. It’s literally a case of having to beg family and friends for money to buy food. I can’t go anywhere because I can’t afford to travel. I can’t earn money easily as a result. My medical conditions have worsened due to the unremitting stress. It is a continual battle for survival.” – Expert by experience

“Gas and electric would be cut off unless payment was made right away. Stress, worry and desperation about the limits of my choices in this affected my mental health to the point I was very anxious and panicked with every knock at the door, every phone call or letter arriving.” – Expert by experience

“My whole life grinds to a halt without the internet: I can’t work, communicate, relax, organise my time, keep in touch with people, use my coping mechanisms.” – Expert by experience

Like all of our research, our latest report is rooted in the experiences of our Research Community of people with mental health problems 🗣️

Read more about the Community’s experiences of utilities debt collection, and what needs to change 👇

🔗 www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/publications...

Chart showing Rolling five-year total real growth in average equivalised household disposable income of the poorer half of non-pensioners, after housing costs: GB/UK

The big-picture outlook for living standards remains grim after the Chancellor’s Spring Statement.

It’s particularly dismal for the poorer half of Britain, who are set to become £500 a year poorer over the Parliament.

Chart showing losses for a family where one person cares for another - monthly after housing costs income would be £1,036 per month less than the equivalent family now. That is 55% of their after housing costs income. In 2029/30 they would gain £12 from the higher basic rate of Universal Credit, but lose £472 from LCWRA change, lose £225 from the carers element change and lose £357 from PIP change.

Some families with a disabled adult stand to lose over £12,000 per year by 2029/30 as a result of the Government's disability benefit cuts.

Hardship being deepened by rebuilding the nations finances on the backs of disabled people

And polling suggests the public know it.

Turning on the lights is a luxury in my family. These benefit changes will push us even closer to the edge | Brian For years we have cut back, and back again. My benefits will now be frozen, but there’s nothing left to sacrifice, says Brian, a Changing Realities participant

Rightly, a lot of analysis of @teamlabouruk.bsky.social historic cuts to disability benefits announced today.

But, please, if you read and share one thing make it Brian’s piece in @theguardian.com

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Good summary of the key takeaways from today’s disability Green Paper👇

Amidst the unwelcome cuts in the Green Paper, I am pleased to see the ideas from this report, funded by @financialfairness.bsky.social being considered…

A question the Green Paper appears to dodge, by my first read, saying only ‘the implications for devolved Governments will need to be fully considered before being implemented.’ Um- no kidding!

From SG perspective obviously big choices for them to make facing huge cuts to PIP and SG budget.

But also if health related UC will now share PIP assessment - how will this work in Scotland with Social Security Scotland doing the assessment?

Come work with us!

One stated aim of Universal Credit is to ensure claimants will always be better off working. However, this research demonstrates that for many, take home income barely increases from working more, due to claw backs via the tax and benefit system.

Nobody likes a tax rise, but our latest research shows a plurality of people agree they are necessary to improve public services. And many would be supportive of further future tax rises beyond the Budget, if needed.

Panel of people talking in session ‘Ensuring the Fair Work Agency’ delivers stronger enforcement

Margaret Beels OBE says transparency and constant reporting from the Fair Work Agency will be key to ensuring to delivers strong enforcement - of workers’ rights- panel discussion @tuceconomics.bsky.social chaired by @financialfairness.bsky.social CEO Mubin Haq.

Our Trustee, Kate Bell, says when considering trade offs between improving employment rights and costs to employers, we can’t just focus on short term adjustment costs. We need to take a long view of how we want our labour market to grow and evolve.

Come work with us!

A real concern for the future isn’t just wealth inequality between generations, but inequality *within* younger generations.

“In real-terms, inequality among younger generations is set to increase as gifts and inheritances cascade down.” One of the reflections the Trust’s CEO, Mubin Haq, on @resfoundation.bsky.social’s new report on wealth in the UK https://buff.ly/4fP4jJe