1. Reflections on some recent disasters in UK social policy
Jonathan Bradshaw
Citizens Advice York
AGM
1 November 2017

2. The importance of social security
Critical to living standards
Major contributor to social justice
Under constant ideological attack

3. Disaster?
Fatal
Miserable
Wasteful
Unneccesary

4. Causes of disaster Decline in civil service competence
Replacement of empirical evidence by “Think Tank” ideology

5. Earlier examples of disasters
1834 Poor Law
1934 Unemployment Assistance Board
1991 Child Support Act
All
Based on ideology
Failed and were abandoned
But caused great misery

6. Universal Credit Roll out until 2022 Ideology of financial incentives
Six week wait only part of the problem
Almost everyone losers – work allowance cut
New conditionalities for people in work
700,000 now – 7 million by 2022

7. Benefit cap Motive to reward work
Only 17% of those affected are job seekers
93% have children
Many with children under 3 – not expected to work
No rationale for cap level
Undermines safety net
Mr Justice Collins “Real misery is being caused to no good purpose.”

8. Two child limit Again breaks link between minimum support and need
Big losses
For poorest families with children
Exceptions invasive
Rationale – savings and influence fertility
Responsible for a third of the increase in poverty up to 2020/21
Discriminatory and being challenged in the courts

9. Conclusion Safety net badly holed
Child poverty, debt, foodbank use, child homelessness, infant mortality, youth suicide all up
Mental health and life satisfaction all down
Three quarters of planned cuts yet to be implemented
Child poverty will increase from 19% to 27% by 2021/22 on existing policies.
Unfair

10. Long-run impact of planned tax and benefit reforms by income decile and household type % reduction in net household income IFS Briefing Note May 2017

11. WE NEED THE YORK CAB MORE THAN EVER!
Conclusion
WE NEED THE YORK CAB MORE THAN EVER!