Hammond urged to end ‘morally unjustifiable’ benefits freeze pushing 200,000 into poverty
The benefits freeze has pushed 200,000 people into poverty, according to analysis by social reform think tank the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF).
Chancellor Philip Hammond was urged to use next week’s Spring Statement to end the freeze a year early.
The JRF said the freeze on working-age benefits meant the support that people receive in 2019 will be worth 6.5% less in real terms than if payments had risen in line with inflation.
The group said 200,000 had been pushed into poverty by the first three years of the freeze, including around 100,000 children.
JRF chief executive Campbell Robb (pictured) said: “As a society, we are failing in our duty to do everything we can to protect each other from poverty.
“Social security is meant to be a public service we can all rely on in hard times, however that support is being eroded.
“There is a growing consensus across the political parties that continuing the benefits freeze would be morally unjustifiable.
“Ministers have indicated that they do not think the freeze should be extended beyond 2020.
“But families are being driven into poverty now and cannot wait another year for action. ”
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “The benefit freeze has tightened family finances, pushing up poverty in working households.
“And it’s holding back working parents who want to give their children a decent life.
“It’s time to stop turning the screw. The Government must scrap the benefits freeze and create a social security system that works for everyone when they need it.”
Liberal Democrat spokeswoman Christine Jardine said: “The Spring Statement is the last chance to scrap the benefits freeze before the final year of the freeze kicks in.
“The Chancellor must end the misery. If he doesn’t, he should be in no doubt that every life made harder and every child pushed into poverty will be on his watch.”
A Government spokesman said: “Our priority is to support people to improve their lives.
“Since 2010 we’ve introduced the National Living Wage, doubled free childcare for three and four-year-olds, and cut taxes for 32 million people to help families meet the everyday cost of living and keep more of what they earn.
“But we know that some people need more support. That’s why we’re spending £90 billion to support families who need it, and by 2022 we will be spending £28 billion more on welfare than we do now.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
