ICESCR concluding observations 2016, paragraph 41
Plain English recommendation
Government should: (a) Review conditions attached to social security benefits. Reverse the cuts introduced by the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. (b) Ensure rates of social security benefits reflect the costs of living and are sufficient for an adequate standard of living, including access to health care, adequate housing and food. (c) Review social security benefit sanctions. Ensure they are proportionate and that prompt, independent dispute resolution processes are available. (d) Monitor the impact of social security reforms on women, children, disabled people, low-income families and families with two or more children.
Original UN recommendation
The Committee calls upon the State party to: (a) Review the entitlement conditions and reverse the cuts in social security benefits introduced by the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. (b) Restore the link between the rates of State benefits and the costs of living and guarantee that all social benefits provide a level of benefit sufficient to ensure an adequate standard of living, including access to health care, adequate housing and food. (c) Review the use of sanctions in relation to social security benefits and ensure that they are used proportionately and are subject to prompt and independent dispute resolution mechanisms. (d) Provide in its next report disaggregated data on the impact of the reforms to social security on women, children, persons with disabilities, low-income families and families with two or more children.
Date of UN examination
16/06/2016
UN article number
9 (social protection), 10 (assistance and support for families), 11 (adequate standard of living)
Original UN document
Download the ICESCR concluding observations 2016 on the UN website