Laura Sharman 24 January 2022

Calls for urgent reform of UK’s welfare system

Calls for urgent reform of UK’s welfare system image
Image: Raman Venin / Shutterstock.com

The UK’s social security system is failing to protect low-income families from extreme hardship and urgently needs reforming, researchers have warned.

A new report by the universities of York and Birmingham and Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), concluded the pandemic has 'exposed and exacerbated' problems with the UK’s welfare system.

It found the financial pressures faced by parents and carers on low incomes were often made worse by the current system due to factors such as the five-week wait for the first payment of Universal Credit.

The researchers also found millions of claimants on legacy benefits and those subject to the benefit cap 'fell through the cracks' during the pandemic as they did not receive the uplift.

Lead author of the study, Dr Ruth Patrick, from the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at the University of York, said: 'Our social security system is currently ill-suited to protect people from poverty, and to provide individuals with some level of security as they navigate what are often temporary challenges in their lives – for example, the loss of a job, relationship breakdown, parenting and care work or ill health.

'This was clear before the pandemic, but COVID-19 further exposed and highlighted just what it means when your social security system is simply unfit for purpose.'

The report makes a number of recommendations including giving caseworkers reasonable caseloads, providing people with a single point of contact, and recognising the demands and benefits of unpaid care work.

It also the removal of the five-week wait for Universal Credit, and for benefit sanctions to be a last resort.

Alex Beer, welfare programme head at the Nuffield Foundation who funded the study, added: 'The Government needs to attend to the adequacy of social security benefits - even more so as costs of living rapidly increase - and ensure a people-first approach in the delivery of benefits.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Practice Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 - £51,356 per annum, pro rata
The service very much promotes flexible working with the ability to work remotely from other bases, as well as working from home Richmond, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Practice Supervisor

North Yorkshire Council
£47,181 - £51,356 per annum, pro rata
The service very much promotes flexible working with the ability to work remotely from other bases, as well as working from home Northallerton, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Legal Assistant Litigation

Durham County Council
£30,024 to £33,699 p.a. (Grade 7)
The Council’s Regulatory & Enforcement team is expanding and is looking to appoint a legal assistant to support and enhance its litigation work.   WHA Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Customer Services Assistants

Durham County Council
£24,790 to £25,992 p.a. (Grade 4)
A vacancy has arisen within Transactional and Customer Services for two  Customer Services Assistant working full time, 37 hours per week. Your primar Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Litigation Lawyer

Durham County Council
£47,181 to £51,356 p.a. (Grade 13)
The Council’s Regulatory & Enforcement team is expanding and is looking to appoint a lawyer to support and enhance its litigation work.   WHAT IS INVO Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner