THE full shocking extent of how women in Scotland are suffering under the Tories’ crippling welfare reforms and £26 billion of cuts in benefits, tax credits, pay and pensions are laid bare in a new report today.
It shows how women are bearing the brunt of welfare changes with 85 per cent of the cuts hitting women’s incomes, a move to Universal Credit, economic inequality and unpaid care work.The hard-hitting report, which highlights the “grotesquely disproportionate impact” that welfare reform is having on women, was compiled by campaigners Engender, Close the Gap, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Scottish Refugee Council and Scottish Women’s Aid, and calls on the Scottish Government to implement a gendered response to welfare reform mitigation.
The groups fighting gender inequality insist that while social security is reserved to Westminster further devolution of some powers over welfare to the Scottish Parliament offers an opportunity to reduce the damaging impact of welfare reforms on women in Scotland.
They acknowledge that responsibility for the horrendous impact on women, the stark reality of which is set out in their report, lies with the UK Government, campaigners are calling for urgent targeted action to redress the policies that put women in Scotland at risk.
The report urges the Scottish Government to implement 10 recommendations including developing a clear action plan linked to devolved policy on gender equality, women’s employment, social care and childcare and monitor emerging impacts on rural, disabled, older, migrant, refuge women, lone mothers and unpaid carers.
Scottish welfare minister Margaret Burgess said she was committed to tackling poverty and inequality and vowed to work with these organisations to make it happen.She added: “We share the concerns raised in this report. We know that welfare changes are having a major and disproportionate impact on women and children and have issued our own reports on the issue of gender and welfare reform.
“These reforms will reduce welfare spending by just under £2.5 billion in 2015 to 16 alone, with a reduction of around £6 billion over the five years to 2015 to 16.“We are committed to tackling poverty and inequality and a fairer social security system is part of that. We are working with a number of organisations to help shape the society we want to see.”
The 36-page document, entitled A Widening Gap: Women and Welfare Reform, contains horror stories from real women who are suffering and analysis of the issues affecting these women such as the move to Universal Credit, economic inequality, unpaid care work, and support for women facing domestic abuse.Campaigners also want a gender and human rights analysis throughout the process of further devolution, and for a halt on the roll out of Universal Credit in Scotland until negotiations are complete.
A women and welfare event was held to discuss the findings of the report at the Scottish Parliament last night co-chaired by Michael McMahon, Convenor and Labour MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, and Clare Adamson, SNP MSP for Central Scotland.Emma Ritch, executive director of Engender, which spearheaded the report, said: “We have long been aware of the devastating impact that welfare reform is having, and this report highlights the true cost to women in Scotland.
The Refugee Women’s Strategy Group, which has helped shape the report, insist urgent action is needed.Lebo Mohlakoana, a member of the group, said: “Decision makers need to stop talking and start acting to halt the negative impact of welfare reform on women. The policies on paper are not helping. Improvements on the ground for women only happen when we start taking action.”
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Reaction from women's rights campaigners
The welfare gender gap
Why are women disproportionately affected by the welfare cuts?
- Women are twice as dependent on social security as men, with 20 per cent of women’s income coming from the benefits and tax credit system, compared with 10 per cent of men’s.
- Women have fewer financial assets and less access to occupational pensions than men and there are more women than men in the lowest income decile in the UK.
- 92 per cent of lone parents are women, who make up 95 per cent of lone parents dependent on Income Support.
- Women are at least 59 per cent of unpaid carers in Scotland and 74 per cent of Carer’s Allowance claimants are women.
- Women are twice as likely to give up paid work in order to care.
- The gender pay gap in Scotland, which is 12 per cent for full-time work and 32 per cent for part-time signifies persistent differences in women’s experience of the labour market.
- Of the £26 billion in changes to taxes and benefits since June 2010, £22 billion will be borne by women and £4 billion by men, putting women at greater risk of poverty.
10 recommendations made by campaigners so the Scottish Government can protect women and children from poverty and social exclusion
1. Develop an action plan to mitigate the impact of welfare reforms on women, which is linked to devolved policy on gender equality, women’s employment, social care and childcare.
2. Specifically monitor emerging impacts on rural, disabled, older, migrant, refugee and BME women, lone mothers and unpaid carers.
3. Mainstream gender analysis and human rights in the Welfare Funds (Scotland) Act.
4. Ensure the Scottish Welfare Fund respects women’s choices and hold local authorities accountable for delivery.
5. Ring-fence funding for community-based groups to provide gender-sensitive services relating to welfare reform.
6. Invest in employability services for women forced into or out of the labour market as a result of welfare reform, including tailored services.
7. Hold local authorities accountable over delivery of Discretionary Housing Payments so women have consistent access to safe accommodation.
8. Extend the Domestic Violence Rule to all women on immigration controls, so EU migrants may apply for Destitution Domestic Violence Concessions.
9. Introduce measures to guarantee that women have access to safety, protection and financial support where a relationship in which their immigration status is dependent on their partner breaks down.
10. Provide funding to ensure women can access refuge accommodation regardless of entitlement to housing benefit.
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