Thousands of households across Bristol will be subject to "the biggest real-terms" permanent benefits cut ever made in a single year. New analysis from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows which parliamentary constituencies will be most affected if the Government chooses not to uprate means tested benefits such as Universal Credit in line with inflation.
The organisation says that suggested plans to increase only in line with earnings – at 6% according to today’s data - would subject these families "to the biggest real-terms permanent cut ever made in a single year".
The Department of Work & Pensions has said it is committed to looking after the most vulnerable and that is why it has delivered at least £1,200 of support to families this winter while also saving households an average of £1,000 a year through the Energy Price Guarantee.
Read next: Fears Bristol is 'becoming like London'
According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation figures, more than 48,000 households are receiving means-tested benefits across the four constituencies in Bristol. Bristol South (14,183) has the highest number of households claiming means-tested benefits, followed by Bristol West (12,646).
They are followed by Bristol East (11, 246) and Bristol North West (10,390). In Bristol South, 29 per cent of families across the constituency are receiving means-tested benefits, with that percentage then declining in the other constituencies to up to 18 per cent in Bristol West.
The data also shows that more 46,000 households across the city are receiving child benefit. Bristol South (13,950) is again the constituency where there are more households claiming the benefit, followed by Bristol East (11,800). They are followed by Bristol North West (11,420) and Bristol West (9,265).
Katie Schmuecker, JRF Principal Policy Adviser, said: “Politicians should think long and hard about the impact of withholding hundreds of pounds from thousands of families in their constituencies when the basic rate of benefits is already at its lowest in real terms for 40 years and prices are sky-high.
“We know millions of families have already gone without the essentials this year, missing meals, not cooking hot food or having hot showers. We know people have gone into arrears on their bills or taking on debt to pay for the basics.
"It is unconscionable that the government should be considering cutting their ability to pay for what they need. The Government must realise how catastrophic it would be to refuse to respect their own party’s pledge to make sure the value of benefits keeps up with prices.
“The majority of people agree the right thing to do is help the most vulnerable during this extraordinary crisis. The impact will be felt across every constituency in the UK. Now is the time for all MPs to stand up and be counted."
A DWP spokesperson said: “The Secretary of State commences her statutory annual review of benefits and state pensions from late October using the most recent prices and earnings indices available. We are committed to looking after the most vulnerable which is why we’ve delivered at least £1,200 of support to families this winter while also saving households an average of £1,000 a year through our Energy Price Guarantee. This support is on top of the annual working-age benefits bill which is over £87 billion.”
Read next:
