‘Tax credit change will undermine survivors of rape’

THE credibility of rape survivors risks being “seriously undermined” by changes to the tax credits system, a women’s group in Wales has warned.

Welfare changes limit claims for child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children – and will require rape victims to prove their third child was born as a result of sexual violence in order to qualify for an exemption.

There have already been protests outside Parliament against the introduction of the so-called “rape clause”.

Safer Wales, a charity which works with victims of domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse, has said the move has the potential to erode the work of the last 20 years or so in making victims more comfortable in reporting crimes.

Bernie Bowen-Thomson, co-chief executive of Safer Wales: “Safer Wales believes the new Child Tax Credit legislation seriously risks undermining the credibility of survivors of rape and poses a concerning risk to community safety. We also believe it is potentially a breach of human rights.

“As a charity that works with the most vulnerable people in society, including survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse, our prime concern is the safety of the people we protect and their access to justice.

“We believe this clause has the potential to seriously undermine the positive work that has been developed since the 1990s to increase victim confidence in reporting perpetrators of sexual violence.

“By weakening victims’ voices and undermining the efforts of agencies such as Safer Wales, it threatens the vital work with survivors of rape to obtain justice, which is already a difficult field.”

The changes to the tax credit regime has already been met with anger by many charities and campaign groups.

The Children’s Society called on the Government to think again over imposing the “two-child limit” on Universal Credit and child tax credit as the move will impact on three million children.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) made a similar plea as it cited independent research forecasting that 200,000 children may be pushed into poverty by the changes.

The Children’s Society calculates that a nurse with three children, earning £23,000 a year, who becomes a single parent stands to lose £2,780 a year if he or she makes a claim for tax credits or universal credit under the move.

JRF’s Katie Schmuecker also called on Ministers to reverse limiting payments to the first two children. “Universal Credit remains the right thing to do. The current system is fragmented and traps people in poverty and the prospect of an integrated benefit system that responds to people’s changing circumstances is a prize worth having.

“But some changes introduced this month are forecast to increase poverty. This will cost us all dear: an estimated £1 in every £5 spent on public services is linked to dealing with the impacts of poverty.

“For children, growing up in poverty scars their prospects and reduces future earnings, costing the Treasury £6.4bn a year in lost tax revenue and additional benefit spending.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “This exception is crucial to protect women who are faced with very difficult circumstances.

“This reform ensures people on benefits have to make the same choices as those supporting themselves solely through work.

“But we have always been clear this it will be delivered in the most effective, compassionate way, with the right exceptions and safeguards are in place.

“The policy was debated, and voted on, in Parliament, and the exceptions were consulted on widely.”