Disability cut impact could be even worse than expected warns food bank charity

Research commissioned by food bank charity Trussell found that 340,000 people in disabled households will be pushed into severe hardship by benefit changes being brought in by the Government
Tens of thousands more people will be pushed into poverty by the Government's welfare cuts than previously feared, a major foodbank charity has warned.
Trussell has claimed that 340,000 people in disabled households will be forced into severe hardship by the end of the decade. Keir Starmer faces a rebellion from his own party over a string of measures, including cutting access to the personal independence payment (PIP) and sickness-related elements of Universal Credit.
‌
The Government's assessment found 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, will fall into relative poverty in England, Scotland and Wales after housing costs are taken into account. But Trussell's analysis said the true picture is even worse, with 440,000 likely to need a food bank - although an increase in the basic rate of Universal Credit will move around 95,000 people out of severe hardship.
‌
Helen Barnard, director of policy at Trussell, said: 'This UK government was elected on a promise of change, and with a commitment to end the need for food banks. If the government goes ahead with these ill-considered and cruel cuts to social security, this promise will not be kept – and instead, they will risk leaving behind a legacy of rising poverty and hunger.
"Tackling fiscal challenges should not be done at the expense of people already facing hunger and hardship. These cuts will force 440,000 people in disabled households into severe hardship and leave them at risk of needing a food bank.
"We urge the government not to continue down this damaging path." The PM faces fierce opposition from Labour backbenchers, dozens of who say the proposals - expected to save £5billion a year - are "impossible to support".
Charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has backed Trussell's calls for the Government to rethink the disability benefit cuts. It said: "This analysis shows they are likely to create more deep poverty and hardship than even the bleak forecast from the Government's own limited assessments."
Trussell has also demanded the Government brings forward the planned increase to the basic rate of Universal Credit to April 2026, instead of waiting until April 2029. A Government spokesperson said: "This Government is determined to change people's lives for the better, helping them out of poverty and tackling the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence in recent years.
"We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Herald Scotland

27 minutes ago

• The Herald Scotland

The poverty premium: why do we tolerate harm?

For those who work in a frontline service like the Citizens Advice network, this isn't an abstract idea simply referenced in academic papers; it's reality. I grew up in extreme poverty so I understand it only too well. It's the reason why I got into money advice as a career and why I'm so passionate about it. CAB advisers see the poverty premium every day in the faces of the people who come to them for help. More often than not, these people are desperate, usually at a point of crisis where they have nowhere left to turn. I recently heard about a woman who came to her local CAB in distress after falling into rent arrears and facing eviction – a result of a series of failures by systems that are meant to help her. It was a snowball effect. She experienced earnings arrestment for council tax, her Universal Credit was cut, and she was using her credit card to just stay afloat. This is just one of thousands of examples where CABs across Scotland are acting as a backstop for systemic failure across the economy. For a start there's the credit market. People on low incomes often don't qualify for low-interest financial products so are forced to use the more expensive high-interest options. Then there's the banking system. As banks continue to move away from our high streets, anyone who doesn't live near a branch and isn't tech savvy will have to travel to access basic services. If they're lucky, there might be an ATM in their local area, but they might then face a £2 charge to simply access their money. And then there's the energy market, where people experiencing poverty or are on lower incomes often pay more for their energy due to the low energy efficiency of their home. Many also pay when bills arrive rather than by direct debit (see above) which can result in a premium of £130 more per year. This is how the cumulative effect builds up. Some estimates put the total poverty premium at an average of £500 per year. If you're struggling financially in Scotland today you get financially penalised for it. In other words, it costs more to have less. So why don't we explore solutions like more flexible banking and credit options or re-designing cash access infrastructure and actually help people who need support, not push more costs onto them? We've repeatedly called for a social tariff to be applied to all sectors, including the energy market, and for improvements in social security so that people have more money to begin with. These ideas are not rocket science. They're sensible, pragmatic and perfectly achievable, but only if ministers, regulators and institutions have the imagination and the will to achieve them. The poverty premium shames us, yet it could be eliminated. Are we willing to do that, or will we just keep tolerating harm? Sarah-Jayne Dunn is manager of the Financial Health team at Citizens Advice Scotland

Glasgow Times

an hour ago

• Glasgow Times

'Russian roulette': Councillor speaks on Glasgow road crossings

Councillor Robert Mooney, Labour representative, said disabled Glaswegians are treated as an 'afterthought' as many crossings don't have working rotating cones — a tactile device which lets visually impaired people know when it is safe to cross — or audible signals. He has warned that someone will be killed if action isn't taken to address the problem. The council's transport convener, Angus Millar, SNP, said the council is 'committed' to replacing or installing the cones across the city. 'That will be done on an ongoing basis as the funding is available,' he added. In late 2021, it was revealed that 403 of 890 signal-controlled junctions across the city did not have a tactile cone. By July 2022, the council said 150 did not have features like rotating cones. Councillor Mooney said crossing roads in the city is 'like playing Russian roulette' for visually impaired people. 'Russian roulette': Councillor speaks on Glasgow road crossings (Image: Newsquest) READ NEXT: I tried Glasgow's newest food and drink tour - my verdict He explained: 'I was up at Cathedral Street a few months ago, I couldn't see whether the green man was on. 'The tactile cone wasn't working. I'd waited for some amount of time, there was a bus stopped at the traffic lights. "I said to myself, 'the green man must be on', I walked out and a bus came in the next lane, stopped about an inch from me. 'If I'd walked out a bit later, I wouldn't be here today. Somebody is going to get killed if this isn't addressed.' He also said the council's accessible design forum has not met since October, but the redevelopment of the city's public realm is 'moving on at a massive pace'. Millar said the forum holds talks about 'general principles around design' and lessons are fed into the design of different projects, which are then subject to consultation. He added: 'Disabled people and others are engaged with on active travel projects. "We have, on active travel projects, a really robust process of engagement with the local community and all stakeholders, including disabled people and their representative groups.'

Daily Record

an hour ago

• Daily Record

Fettes College may cut jobs after Government's VAT decision

The private school in Edinburgh said it needs to run its operations "as efficiently as possible". Jobs at a prestigious Scots private school may be lost as it looks to cut costs following the UK Government's introduction of VAT on school fees. Fettes College in Edinburgh said the decision was one of the reasons it took the 'difficult' decision to 'right size our staffing model'. ‌ The Scotsman reported that the school – attended by former prime minister Tony Blair – has opened a consultation process for both teaching and operational staff in order to reduce numbers. ‌ The most recent accounts show 751 students in August 2024, down from 780 the previous year. academic year, inclusive of VAT. The Labour government imposed VAT on private education and boarding fees, effective from January 1. Ministers argue that removing the VAT exemption will benefit the wider education sector, including the 94% of pupils who attend state schools. A spokesman for Fettes College said the sector is facing a 'tough time' and appealed for privacy for the staff involved. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The spokesman said: 'Various factors have conspired to increase costs on all organisations and schools are not immune, particularly with the recent imposition of VAT on school fees and rise in national insurance contributions. ‌ 'Despite being financially very well managed with a strong student roll, these factors are having an impact on our costs and numbers, and we are obliged to run our operations as efficiently as possible. 'These headwinds obviously affect our families too and our parents need to be certain that we are taking the necessary decisions to run the school efficiently and to use their money effectively. 'A consultation process began in May to right size our staffing model. This difficult decision may result in some redundancies. 'We will continue to provide the highest standard of educational experience, delivering our innovative vision for the school and maintaining our position as a leader in the sector.'