Welsh poverty levels could rise dramatically warns think tank

Levels of poverty in Wales could increase dramatically as a result of the UK Government’s planned changes to welfare payments, a think tank has said. In March, the UK Government announced

changes to disability benefits and Universal Credit. There have been repeated concerns about the impact of the proposal and questions about how it will impact on Wales. A report from think

tank the Bevan Foundation says the percentage of households affected could more than treble, from 24.5% to 78.4%. Part of the UK Government proposals included measures to get people back to

work. With those taken into account, the think tank says it is likely that, once the reforms are fully rolled out, households affected by the reforms will still be more than twice as likely

to be living in poverty than is currently the case. Data experts Policy in Practice found some households are set to be more than £900 a month worse off. Earlier this month, Policy in

Practice said nearly 190,000 people will be affected by the changes to benefits. The Bevan Foundation’s head of policy (poverty), Dr Steffan Evans, said: “These new findings make for

incredibly grim reading. “It is clear that, without a rethink, the UK Government’s proposed reforms to the benefits system will have a particularly severe impact on poverty in Wales, making

life harder for thousands of disabled people. “The results highlight just how important the benefits system is in reducing poverty. Whilst the UK Government is right to take action to

support disabled people back into work, work can only ever form part of the answer. It is vital that the UK Government maintains a strong safety net to ensure people can access the support

they need.” Deven Ghelani, of Policy in Practice, said: “This research lays bare the sharp rise in hardship many disabled people in Wales could soon face. Local authorities need to prepare

for the increase in poverty these reforms will trigger. The data also shows they are not powerless. “By using insights like these, councils can target support, plan services more

effectively, and advocate for the resources their communities will urgently need.” The UK Government has failed to give any figures for how its welfare changes will impact on Wales, despite

repeated questions and requests for data. “There is acceptance that Wales has a high level of people who claim benefits, and the Western Mail asked the Department of Work and Pensions, the

Treasury and the Wales Office on the day of the Spring Statement how many people would be affected in Wales. None of them could answer. When we interviewed Chancellor Rachel Reeves on her

visit to Wales the day after the Spring Statement, she said it was “not usual” to give figures for Wales, but they were looking at the request. The Welsh Government was not able to provide

figures either. Despite subsequent requests, no-one has been able to answer.‌ It led to a row between the Labour administrations in Wales and London. First Minster Eluned Morgan said she was

“really worried” about how the changes might impact people. Wales’ Health Secretary, Jeremy Miles, also said at the time it was not a decision the Welsh Government would have made and said

the decision was “wrong”.