Low-income families will be worst affected, charities warn
LEADING CHARITIES are calling on the Government to take urgent action to prevent struggling families from falling into poverty after the UK leaves the EU.
A coalition including the Yorkbased Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), Shelter and Child Poverty Action Group says the risks facing low-income households should be assessed and contingency plans stepped up.
The charities said 14 million people are already living in poverty, and warned that more could be pushed into hardship because of the risks of a no-deal Brexit.
The JRF said that even if there is a smooth exit from the EU, continuing with the benefit freeze for another year will lead to millions of people in poverty missing out on £220 a year and another 200,000 being pulled into poverty. The impact of leaving the EU without a deal could be more severe, it was warned.
An open letter to MPs said many people are already facing “impossible situations” such as struggling to pay their rent or put food on the table for their children.
“There is widespread agreement that some level of economic and social disruption will follow Brexit at least in the short term, and worst of all under a no-deal scenario.
“Low-income families will be worst affected, having already endured years of benefit cuts and freezes. The public services they rely upon are also under pressure due to the consequences of rising poverty.
“We need a new deal for lowincome families to cushion the blow and this has prompted us to write to you.
“Without pre-emptive action by the Government there is potential for the already shamefully high rates of poverty in the UK to worsen further in the face of price and income shocks.”
In the letter published today the charities called for urgent improvements to Universal Credit, an end to the freeze on workingage benefits and tax credits, and an emergency stimulus package for areas with high levels of poverty.
The letter was signed by officials including JRF chief executive Campbell Robb and his counterparts from Shelter, Trussell Trust, Child Poverty Action Group, Action for Children, National Children’s Bureau, Poverty Alliance, Turn2us, Barnardos and ATD Fourth World.
A Government spokesman said their priority was to support people to improve their lives, “and that will remain a priority after we leave the EU”.