Today, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presented her Spring Statement, an update on the government’s taxation and spending plans. In the statement, the Chancellor confirmed cuts to benefits announced in the government’s green paper on benefit reform.  

Responding to the Spring Statement, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, Sam Smethers said: “The benefits cuts confirmed today in the Chancellor’s Spring Statement will only make the lives of economic abuse victim-survivors harder. It’s a particularly devastating blow to disabled women, who we know are almost twice as likely to experience economic abuse than non-disabled women. And young disabled survivors will bear the heaviest burden, now having to wait until they are 22 to access incapacity benefits.  

“Victim-survivors are already scraping by, piecing their lives back together after the harm caused by economic abusers, by trying to hold onto their homes while battling poor mental health, and facing mountains of coerced debt. These cuts will only make it harder for them to flee, rejoin the workforce and safely rebuild their lives.  

“The government will never succeed in its mission to halve violence against women and girls if it makes it impossible for disabled victim-survivors to escape economic abuse. It must take urgent action to protect disabled victim-survivors, ensuring they can access an adequate safety net to flee an abuser and rebuild their lives after devastating harm.” 

ENDS 

For further information or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson, please contact the Surviving Economic Abuse press office on [email protected] / 07786 073249