Autumn Statement 2023: Universal Credit and benefits

Dr Kayleigh Garthwaite reflects on the changes to Universal Credit and benefits announced in the Autumn Statement.

Disabled woman in a wheelchair working from home.

Although a long overdue increase to Universal Credit was announced today, increasing conditionality for sick and disabled people, together with threats of removing free prescriptions, is punitive and serves to perpetuate the myth that people receiving sickness benefits are choosing to not enter paid employment.

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