Archbishop Vincent Nichols, the leader of Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales, condemns Government's austerity programme as a ‘disgrace’ for leaving poor facing ‘destitution’
John Bingham. Daily Telegraph. 14 February 2014
New Cardinal Vincent Nichols: welfare cuts ‘frankly a disgrace’
Amen, We need to hear more of this plain speaking from the Churches. The system is complex and hard for many to understand. The austerity program has it hard such organisations as Citizens Advice which help people with their claims. The level of sanctions is not appropriate for the expected income level of claimants. The DWP say they are “making work pay” and “helping people into work”. This does not help those who are unable to find work. The success rate of the Work Program is so low that providers have to reduce the level of service as the do not receive expected bonuses. The basis of benefit payments has been reduced from RPI to CPI to a 1% cap. More significant for many have been increased costs due to changes in housing benefit and help with council tax. The poor and vulnerable are bearing a disproportionate share of the austerity burden.