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Women worst off under Universal Credit
Women expected to lose thousands
Recent cuts to Universal Credit will leave women considerably worse off, reports the Women's Budget Group.
Changes to the work allowance and the two-child policy, the removal of the family element, and changes to the taper rate and the payment levels are set to disproportionally affect women.
Over 2.2 million female claimants, in work, will lose an average of £1,400 a year.
Over 3.6 million female claimants, unemployed, will lose an average of £600 a year.
The picture is even bleaker for women from ethnic minority backgrounds. Black women, in work, are set to lose on average £1,500 a year.
Additionally, families with children will be worse off than households without children:
760,000 families with three or more children will lose on average £2,600 a year
230,000 one-earner couples with three or more children will lose on average £3,891 a year
132,000 two-earner couples with three or more children will lose on average £3,287 a year.
When changes to Universal Credit are added to other cuts and changes to benefits and taxes, over 5.9 million women will lose £4,406 a year.
Employed women will lose over 10 times as much from cuts and changes to benefits and taxes as they will have gained from the increased National Living Wage and personal tax allowance.
Again, women from ethnic minority backgrounds have it worse. Whether employed or not, black women stand to lose £5,030 a year.
If you are struggling to make ends meet, use our Benefits Calculator and our Grants Search.
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