Need to know basis
🪧 Disability benefits disgrace. We are continuing to shine a light on the disability benefits system. I spoke to Chelsea, a claimant who had her benefits cut back and has faced a “traumatic” appeals process with countless tribunals postponed, and Aidan, an amputee who had his benefits reduced and worried he would become homeless.
💰 Bonuses for bank bosses. Bank of England bosses have pocketed thousands of pounds in pay rises, despite telling people they have to “accept” getting poorer. Read the exclusive by Martin Williams in openDemocracy.
🧸 Child cap. There is currently a two-child benefit cap which critics say has been a major driver of deepening poverty. New data from The Guardian shows it is impacting 1.5 million children, but Labour leader Keir Starmer has so far refused to say whether his government would dismantle the policy.
⬆️ Childcare cash boost. The government announced that it is increasing funding for childcare – describing it as the biggest ever investment in childcare. But representatives of the sector warned it “grossly underestimates” needs. Pregnant then Screwed added: “This £204 million injection is a fraction of the £1.8 billion that the sector needs.”
🍼 Baby guarantee. 80 leading children’s charities are calling for a “baby and toddler guarantee” to ensure that families can access vital services including maternity care, health visits, mental health support, affordable childcare and more. The campaign is backed by celebrities including Andy Murray, David Harewood and Rita Ora.
📈 (Soar)tgage. Mortgage costs have hit the highest level for 15 years at 6.66% – rates not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. MoneyHelper has a useful guide to what government help you can get if you can’t afford to pay your mortgage, and here’s what you need to know about when (and if) mortgage rates will go down from my colleague Liam.
💡Missing out. More than 700,000 households missed out on government support for energy bills because they were living in places like park homes and houseboats, the BBC reports. The figure is likely higher – we reported last year that thousands on prepayment meters were not getting the discount.
🦠 Poverty pandemic. The impacts of the pandemic are likely to increase chronic poverty worldwide for the next decade, according to a new report from the Institute of Development Studies. It aims to provide policymakers with an understanding of how best to act in future crises to protect people from poverty.
🎨 Artists on the brink. This is a devastating piece by Vanessa Thorpe in The Guardian about the artists in London who are quitting their dream careers because of poverty. Close to a third of artists said a lack of funds might force them out within five years.
