Dan Sutherland
@danielsutherland.bsky.social
Media Manager, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
A very stirring piece that does makes you think about how poorly society treats people without whom so many of our health and care services would become inoperable
Abby Jitendra@abbyabhaya.bsky.social · last yr.‘The diaries read like broken records – endless arranging and rearranging of appointments, prescriptions and finances, automated phone services that lead to dead ends. ‘I wish that we did not move in circles,’ wrote Philippa, 86.’ www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ahead of a crucial vote on cuts to disability benefits, our new evidence casts doubt on whether jobs are even available for disabled people facing cuts 📢 The analysis found that the parts of the country among the hardest hit by the cuts have fewer job opportunities 1/3
Much of the Government's intention for cutting PIP and UC is to motivate people to find a job But cutting social security can't 'incentivise' people into jobs that don't exist New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis shows there are simply too few jobs for the Government's argument to hold
People are unaware of high care costs, the cost of caring yourself, or long waiting lists. Most of us hope the social care system will be there for us in times of need. But the system we have currently is inadequate. Our latest analysis has found a ‘care expectation gap’ 🔽 1/4
NEW analysis from @jrf-uk.bsky.social & @centrepropolicy.bsky.social shows how improving paternity leave can boost UK growth Data from countries with more generous leave shows it tackles gender norms & helps women into work, with an economy-wide benefit of £2.8bn www.ft.com/content/5c4a...
MPs urge Rachel Reeves to extend paternity leave
Calls come as research suggests UK economy would benefit from more generous offering to new fathers
ft.com
"The balance here is off the scale" 📢 The government's proposed cuts to disability benefits will deepen poverty and hardship, and push many further from work. Watch @iainkporter.bsky.social give evidence to the Work and Pensions Committee on the cuts.
Our analysis showed up to 400,000 people would be pushed into poverty by the Government's proposed disability benefits cuts. This was put to PM Keir Starmer by @debbieabrahamsmp.bsky.social at today's Liaison Committee. He said the cuts would 'change behaviour'. Watch below 🔽 1/2
Since the latest announcement of cuts to health related benefits: 📢 60% of the public think the Government is going in the wrong direction to tackle the cost of living crisis and hardship. This includes 41% of those who backed Labour in July. Find out more 🔽
Luke Tryl@luketryl.bsky.social · last yr.New @moreincommonuk.bsky.social polling for @jrf-uk.bsky.social finds benefit cuts risk putting the Government on the wrong side of public opinion. 60% of the public now think the Government is going in the wrong direction, including 41% of those who backed Labour in July.
🗣️ "At the moment, the risks of the world changing are being borne by disabled people, some of the most vulnerable and marginalized in our society." @katieschmuecker.bsky.social discusses the impact of disability benefit cuts on @channel4news.bsky.social last night. www.channel4.com/news/cuts-ha...
Cuts have ‘huge implications for hardship’ says charity
Katie Schmuecker is from anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
channel4.com
I think a situation as dire as this came as a surprise to even my most seasoned colleagues.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation@jrf-uk.bsky.social · last yr.The Chancellor said today that she would not do anything to put household finances in danger Yet the government’s own assessment shows their cuts to health related benefits risk pushing 250,000 people into poverty, including 50,000 children 📢 Their assessment also found... 1/3
New analysis from @sam-tims.bsky.social & @statspeter.bsky.social sets out example losses from the disability benefit cuts- over £12,000 a year in 2029/30 if you lose out on PIP, UC health and Carers Allowance. This article is a must read accompaniment for the real life human impact.
Frances Ryan@francesryan.bsky.social · last yr.“I can’t sleep, I’m so scared.” My report in tomorrow’s Guardian on the disability benefit cuts “domino effect”: losing PIP will see unpaid carers lose their benefits too - pulling away two main strands of a family’s income at once. www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Living standards are forecast to have already peaked this parliament, with Keir Starmer on track to preside over the worst parliament in modern history for living standards. New JRF analysis on living standards ahead of the Spring Statement ⬇️ 1/🧵
With the Chancellor expected to miss her fiscal rules next week, there are always choices on how to respond. Cutting disability benefits by £5b and further squeezing public services, already facing £8b in cuts to unprotected departments, are the wrong choices. 1/3
UK government borrowing overshoots expectations
Official figures will add to pressure on chancellor as she prepares for Spring Statement next week
ft.com
Upcoming work from JRF will show changes outlined in Government's green paper will make it harder for young people furthest from the labour market to get into jobs. As the inimitable Rachel Casey remarks.."it's already pretty damn hard." Watch this space.
Rachel Casey@rachelcasey.bsky.social · last yr.Yesterday, the Government’s launched the #PathwaystoWork green paper. It plans to create a “clearer youth phase” by changing benefit rules for young people to support its new Youth Guarantee. Key takeaways 🧵1/7
Today's announcement to raise the standard allowance of Universal Credit (off the back of sick and disabled people) seems arbitrary. Will £98 a week be enough to afford the essentials next year? 🤷♂️ An Essentials Guarantee would make sure there's a legal duty for an independent recommendation
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall's speech today laid out plans to cut disability and sickness benefits by billions. ❌ No truly moral choice would leave disabled people without support designed to allow them to lead a dignified life, or facing hardship. 1/4
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.Liz Kendall unveils UK benefits cuts set to leave many sick and disabled worse off
Yesterday, a Government press release claimed the number of people “considered too sick to work” had "quadrupled" since the pandemic (a "383% rise"). This is incorrect. In fact, it’s not even close. It's more like 40%. This thread explains why 🧵1/7
It's frustrating so see this idea reemerge, and for it go unchallenged on R4 Today while cuts to the most vulnerable are being discussed First of all, historical analysis by @jrf-uk.bsky.social has found that it is very rare for two generations in the same family to have never worked
UK has one of the weakest social security systems in the rich world, with poorest households worse off than Slovenian counterparts. Jobless benefits covered the cost of essentials in just two of the past 14 years. @niesrorg.bsky.social finds on.ft.com/4ijBPIO (£)
UK social safety net among weakest in rich world, analysis finds
Think-tank report comes as Keir Starmer seeks to convince Labour MPs to back welfare spending cuts
on.ft.com
Our welfare system is morally indefensible - but not like Kier Starmer thinks www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
Our welfare system is morally indefensible - but not like Keir Starmer thinks
The Prime Minister reportedly told his MPs yesterday that the UK welfare system is morally indefensible.
lbc.co.uk
Cutting disability benefits will intensify already high levels of hardship. @trusselluk.bsky.social find: 1 in 5 people on universal credit and claiming disability benefits used a food bank in the last month 2 in 5 had skipped meals in the past 3 months Cuts will make this worse.
Bleak new @trusselluk.bsky.social / @yougov.co.uk research that'll only make some Labour MPs feel more uneasy about the prospect of significant welfare cuts this spring Write-up by @nadinebh.bsky.social
PoliticsHome@politicshome.bsky.social · last yr.Over 75% of people receiving Universal Credit and disability benefits have gone without essentials in the last 6 months, polling shared exclusively with PolHome shows 43% have skipped meals to keep up with other costs The new @trusselluk.bsky.social research comes ahead of reported welfare cuts
Care demands can push people into hardship, particularly if they leave work to care. Our inadequate parental and paternity leave system drives this insecurity. Increasing paternity leave and ensuring all families in work can access it is an important way to prevent families from hardship. 📢 1/2
Fascinating to work on this report and get under the skin of what "economic insecurity" means. It's more than a feeling.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation@jrf-uk.bsky.social · last yr."It is precisely these mid-life adults who feel the most economically insecure. They have mortgages to worry about, children to provide for, and greater financial pressures" 🗣️ 18.5 million potential voters feel economically insecure. @profjanegreen.bsky.social: www.lbc.co.uk/opinion/view...
If you're not following @rachelleearwaker.bsky.social you're only getting half the story..
Rachelle Earwaker@rachelleearwaker.bsky.social · last yr.Inflation is up by 3%, but private rents are up by 8.7% across the UK and 11%(!!!) in London. Across GB, it means paying ~£100 more per month on average since Jan 24, or ~£200 more per month since Jan 23. In London, £220 more per month since Jan 24, or ~£400(!) more per month since Jan 23.
There are already people who have come to contribute to our country who can’t claim benefits, even if they work in critical but low paid sectors like care. We already have a 10 year route to settlement. Both policies drive destitution. They are not a model. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
Badenoch: claiming benefits should bar foreign workers from settling in UK
Tory leader wants Labour immigration bill to include 10-year period before eligibility for state aid and granting of indefinite leave
theguardian.com
