Charities had already reported a surge in calls and visits to their advice pages following welfare reform announcement
Government assessment indicates Rachel Reeves' welfare reforms will push an additional 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty in Great Britain by 2029/30. Universal Credit health benefits for new claimants will be halved in 2026 and then frozen until 2030. The reforms are projected to reduce spending by £4.8 billion in 2029-30. Charities and think tanks have criticized the reforms, warning of income shocks and questioning whether they are primarily for fiscal purposes rather than genuine reform. Carer's benefits are also expected to be cut.
