Welfare reforms start today

Today sees the Lib Dems / Tory government really biting hard on people on the lowest incomes with the start of the Welfare Reform Act. The two key parts seem to be the introduction of Universal Credit and the Bedroom Tax.

The bedroom tax is truly appalling. Despite the concept of encouraging people to live in a house that is reasonably sized being a fairly worthy goal, the bedroom tax will hit families, disabled people, single workers and older people in equal measure. It will push thousands into poverty and rip apart communities.

IDS's Universal Credit seems equally bad, making it even harder to escape the benefits trap according to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. His claim this morning that he can live on £57 per week is beyond laughable - I'd like to see him do that for a year, perhaps then we will see some understanding of what it really means to be on a low income.