Universal Credit: Facts and fears.
A presentation and workshops organised by Shrewsbury and Atcham Labour Party Women’s Forum.
Thursday 8 March, 11am to 2pm at Castlefields Community Centre.

Women in Shrewsbury Labour Party are organising an event to mark International Women’s Day examining the local impact of Universal Credit . The new benefit is due to be fully implemented in Shrewsbury in May.

Speakers at the event are Duncan Walker from Unite, Sue Moffat, Women’s Officer at Newcastle-Under-Lyme Labour Party and Linda Allbutt, organisor of “Period Power”.
All are welcome to the event which is free, with an optional donation and light refreshments. Register to attend at shrewswomensforum@gmail.com

Research has shown that women are being hit hardest as the new benefit is rolled out. The benefits advice charity Turn to Us reports

“Over 2.2 million female claimants, in work, will lose an average of £1,400 a year.

Over 3.6 million female claimants, unemployed, will lose an average of £600 a year.

The picture is even bleaker for women from ethnic minority backgrounds. Black women, in work, are set to lose on average £1,500 a year.

Additionally, families with children will be worse off than households without children:

760,000 families with three or more children will lose on average £2,600 a year
230,000 one-earner couples with three or more children will lose on average £3,891 a year
132,000 two-earner couples with three or more children will lose on average £3,287 a year.
When changes to Universal Credit are added to other cuts and changes to benefits and taxes, over 5.9 million women will lose £4,406 a year.

Employed women will lose over 10 times as much from cuts and changes to benefits and taxes as they will have gained from the increased National Living Wage and personal tax allowance.”