Holes in the safety net: The impact of Universal Credit on disabled people and their families

This inquiry identified that several key groups would lose financially under the new system.

These groups are:

• 100,000 disabled children stand to lose up to £28 a week
• 230,000 severely disabled people who do not have another adult to assist them could receive between £28 and £58 a week less than currently
• Up to 116,000 disabled people who work could be at risk of losing around £40 per week.

This means that around 450,000 disabled people could stand to lose out under Universal Credit once it is fully implemented. Current benefit claimants who move onto Universal Credit will not see their benefit cut immediately. However, they will have their level of benefit frozen with no increases to take account of rising prices. In addition they may see their support cut immediately if their household circumstances change.