Budget 2017: 3 policies that would help those most in need

15 charities have worked together to propose three policies for the budget on November 22, to help provide greater financial security for all.

Chief executives have written to the Prime Minister, and the proposals were also published in the Sunday Times on October 1.

What are the proposals?

1. Make work pay: Restore Universal Credit work allowances (the level or earnings above which UC starts to be withdrawn)
2. Fix Universal Credit delays: Pay UC after two weeks
3. Help incomes to rise in line with living costs: End the freeze on Child Benefit and other social security payments such as Local Housing Allowances

Who is making this call?

• Child Poverty Action Group
• Church Action on Poverty
• Community Links
• Disability Rights UK
• The Equality Trust
• Family and Childcare Trust
• Fawcett Society
• Gingerbread
• Mental Health Foundation
• Refugee Council
• Shelter
• The Children’s Society
• Trust for London
• Women’s Aid
• Women’s Budget Group

Why?

Creating a society that protects the vulnerable and shares the rewards of prosperity is an urgent national challenge. As organisations working closely with, and on behalf of, the many families and individuals facing financial insecurity we have come together to share our collective experience and expertise

Evidence and supporting documents

• Read our briefing note in full here
• Read our letter in the Sunday Times
• Read our letter to the Prime Minister, Theresa May
• CPAG’s March 2017 briefing on the effect of Universal Credit changes on household incomes, poverty and work incentives
• CPAG’s Early Warning System report on Universal Credit full service roll out (from May 2017)
• CPAG’s Cost of a Child report from August 2017
• One Universal Credit recipient’s story: I became homeless & depressed
• Gingerbread evidence showing that most single parents are struggling to make ends meet, with many being tipped into debt. Cuts to universal credit, delayed payments and a squeeze on state support will make things much worse
• Gingerbread analysis shows the work allowance cut alone will mean working single parents lose around £800 a year on average, and some will lose well over £2,000
• Gingerbread blog: Universal Credit is now starting to cause real financial misery for single parents and their families, with some being evicted as a result
• JRF budget briefing, which warns of an extra 500,000 people in poverty within three years if the benefit cap is not lifted
• JRF briefing on the impact of work allowance restrictions
• The impact of Universal Credit on tenants and their rent behaviour
• Report: Lifting the burden on self-employed Universal Credit claimants
• Resolution Foundation report on Universal Credit