62 views
Public Services for All > Published by Rosanna Singler, December 6th 2010 at 2:15 pm

Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts

Print Friendly

As the Fawcett Society takes their legal challenge against the Emergency Budget to the High Court, Labour’s equalities spokeswoman, Yvette Cooper MP, has released research detailing exactly how disproportionately the cuts will affect women. The findings may form part of the evidence if the High Court agrees to a full judicial review.

The research, undertaken by the House of Commons Library, calculates that the Emergency Budget will hit women almost three times as hard as men, and the Spending Review, twice as hard. Of the £16bn set to be raised in direct tax, benefit, and pension changes in the Budget and Spending Review, £11bn will come from women, it finds. Overall, of the £8.5bn additional tax credit and welfare savings and public sector pension contributions raised in the Spending Review, £5.7bn will come from women.

The research sets out how the cuts will affect working women (those with children in particular), carers (who are most likely to be women), and women nearing pension age.

Women with children

Over £6 billion is being cut in direct financial support for children in the spending review and Budget, to put it in context, this is three times as much as is being taken from the banks.

The analysis calculates these figures by using figures which show the proportion of benefits paid directly to women:

- 70% of tax credits

- 60% of housing benefit

- 94% of child benefit

- 65% of those contributing to public sector pensions are women

- 65% of those affected by the cuts to pension credit for people with savings are women.

    Working women

    Cooper’s research sets out how cutting state support will make it harder for mothers to work. The most significant cut of all is a 10% cut in the childcare element of the working tax credit. According to the Daycare Trust this amounts to up to staggering £1,500 a year cut in help with child care costs.

    Changes to working tax credits only serves to compound these problems. Currently, if one partner loses his job and the other is in part time work, they can get up to £70 a week in Working Tax Credit to help them. Now working tax credit is being abolished, unless a couple are working 24 hours between them. Given the costs of travel and childcare, this means that some families will be better off if both partners give up work than if one of them gets a part time job.

    Stay at home mums will be hit by cuts to child benefit for higher rate tax payers. A one earner couple on £45,000 with three children loses £2,450 a year in child benefit (in most cases this is currently paid directly to the mother). In contrast, a two earner couple on combined income of £80,000 keep their child benefit.

    Moreover, cuts to the baby tax credit, amounting to £545 being cut from the family budget mean that new mums will have to return to work sooner.

    Cuts to jobs

    These changes are compounded by fact that women are more likely to lose their jobs as, due to cuts in the budget, over 300,000 jobs are earmarked for cuts in the public sector alone, where a large proportion of the jobs are done by women (65% of public sector jobs are done by women.

    Cuts to pensions

    Older women will be more heavily hit by cuts to the pension credit, public sector pensions, attendance allowance, and carers’ allowance. Women who are currently 57 will have to work longer than they expected, losing on average over £400 a month in State Retirement pension for every extra month they are expected to work (based on £5,000 a year state pension).

    Women are also more likely to be hit by the cuts in the Pension Credit Savings Credit which means that pensioners with more savings will no longer be able to get Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or council tax benefit.

    Cuts to local services

    On top of all these cuts to direct financial support from the state, women are more likely to be hit by cuts in local services upon which they are heavily reliant, particularly social care which will be affected by the 27% cut in local council budget

    In support of this research, The Women’s Budget Group – a network of authoritative, independent experts, has also said that the Spending Review will impact disproportionately on women’s incomes, jobs and public services. Its research finds that women often act as ‘shock absorbers’ as they try to shield their children from the effects of poverty. Women can only bear so much shock – as these cuts begin to bite, it is highly probable that it is families who will suffer most.

    • http://twitter.com/khaledhishma/status/11786076767133696 Khaled Hishma

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX #honoringwomen

    • http://twitter.com/robjhicks/status/11786473141440513 Rob Hicks

      This is actually pretty worrying, women hit hardest by Osbourne's budget http://bit.ly/gL70hX we pay women less and take more from them.

    • http://twitter.com/jodatu/status/11787539299966977 John Turner

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/magenpie23/status/11787833530388480 Alexandra

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/marthaleyton/status/11788372221628416 Martha Leyton

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX (via @leftfootfwd)

    • http://twitter.com/hazico_jo/status/11788809133887488 Hazico_Jo

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/shodanalexm/status/11788991233785857 Alex Marsh

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/ejwhat/status/11789385154428928 EJW

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/louisesdad/status/11790373215019008 Martin Brown

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/clstremix/status/11790754892488704 TU Cultural Studies

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gDN3Y7

    • http://twitter.com/vickstonebridge/status/11790837025349632 Vicky Stonebridge

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/elmyra/status/11791359526567936 Mili

      We're all in this together. But some are totally more equal than others, and we're rather more "in it" if we're women: http://bit.ly/dFkeRf

    • http://twitter.com/oasis_of_truth/status/11792201910587392 Oasis Caretaker

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/jennybunker/status/11792871367647232 Jenny Bunker

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/nishmadoshi/status/11794170653966336 Nishma Doshi

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #gendercuts #solidarity

    • http://twitter.com/oxkev/status/11795157359792129 Oxford Kevin

      RT @NishmaDoshi: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #gendercuts #solidarity

    • http://twitter.com/danleeuk/status/11795342496370688 Dan Lee

      RT @NishmaDoshi: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #gendercuts #solidarity

    • http://twitter.com/falseecon/status/11796162973540352 False Economy

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/carbonpolitics/status/11796705682923520 carbon politics

      RT @NishmaDoshi: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #gendercuts #solidarity

    • http://twitter.com/new_nomad/status/11796732606156801 Aisha Yusaf

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/philcovers/status/11797409046732800 Christopher Phillips

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/cherylbaker/status/11800583111442432 Cheryl Baker

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/clizanne/status/11803086888632320 Lizanne Devonport

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/tomashwhite/status/11805735591608322 Tomas White

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/cottoncorazon/status/11805870199410689 cottoncorazon

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/rossreidmedia/status/11805911957901312 ross reid

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/nickbloke/status/11809841848786944 Nick H.

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/emma_js/status/11810911928979456 Emma Jackson Stuart

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/bma/status/11813339936063488 Benjamin M. A’Lee

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts http://ur1.ca/2iie1 (via @leftfootfwd) #feminism #ukpolitics

    • http://twitter.com/sianushka/status/11813635743555585 sianushka

      RT @Emma_JS: RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/jtuitelondon/status/11816632103993345 JOHN TUITE

      Of £16bn cut in direct tax, benefit, & pension changes in Budget & Spending Review, £11bn will come from women: http://tinyurl.com/3362xgd

    • http://twitter.com/thesliverparty/status/11816710667505664 John O’Dwyer

      RT @Emma_JS RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/robertnbird/status/11817265896890369 Robert Bird

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/ezK1Vg

    • http://twitter.com/elchicoalmendra/status/11818028865953793 Rafa Moltó

      Los recortes en RU afectarán mucho más a las mujeres que a los hombres http://bit.ly/h5CWzK (via @NewStatesman )

    • http://twitter.com/chazelgrove/status/11822231151710208 Claire Hazelgrove

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/kathrynperera/status/11854354663342080 Kathryn Perera

      New research from Yvette Cooper shows that women bear more than two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/labourwomensnet/status/11854618866753536 LabourWomensNetwork

      RT @KathrynPerera Yvette Cooper shows that women bear more than two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/pmmrav/status/11854928125362176 Pat Raven

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/marstrina/status/11863621495685120 MarinaS

      RT @KathrynPerera New research by Yvt Cooper: women bear more than 2/3 of Cltn's tax rises & cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #thetorieshatewomen

    • http://twitter.com/miamiamidori/status/11867480649629696 Carina

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/redstar987/status/11870380956319744 Redstar PCS Stoke

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/michellethomass/status/11871590425821184 Michelle Thomasson

      RT @NishmaDoshi: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #gendercuts #solidarity

    • http://twitter.com/rctunison/status/11916425602011136 RCT UNISON

      RT @FalseEcon: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM @leftfootfwd (via @NishmaDoshi)

    • http://twitter.com/janeayres/status/11921256794300416 Jane Ayres

      RT @leftfootfwd Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts: http://bit.ly/gL70hX reports Rosanna Singler

    • http://twitter.com/cllrkrichards/status/11930312187584512 Kevin Richards

      We said it was unfair RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/lil_richardjohn/status/11933957750792192 Lil

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/georgeallwell/status/11998907634548737 George Allwell

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/darrenjohnsonam/status/12070809325543424 Darren Johnson

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/gj0u8h #notallinthistogether #ukcuts

    • http://twitter.com/grahamjeffery/status/12079134922506240 Graham Jeffery

      RT @DarrenJohnsonAM: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/gj0u8h #notalli …

    • Mr. Sensible

      Rosanna I cannot believe that the government can call the budget and spending review fare, whether you look at it from the perspective of gender, wealth, geography or other factors.

      I believe the IFS has said it isn’t fare, and it’s former head is now the head of the OBR.

      Oh the irony…

    • http://twitter.com/mattvaller/status/12156504039759872 Matt Valler

      RT @DarrenJohnsonAM: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition’s tax rises and benefit cuts @leftfootforward http://bit.ly/gj0u8h #notalli …

    • http://twitter.com/agentofchage/status/12158999369621505 vikz Richards

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://twitter.com/freethepeeps/status/12169766898765824 Roy Bard

      RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM #ukuncut

    • http://twitter.com/emilypeabody42/status/12537952122966016 Anonyma Anonymous

      Applaud Yvette Cooper's gender audit RT @leftfootfwd: Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and cuts http://bit.ly/gkE4WM

    • http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/05/ken-clarke-and-the-tories-keep-screwing-up-on-gender-equality/ Cameron, Clarke, Dorries, Willetts… The Tories keep screwing up on gender equality | Left Foot Forward

      [...] plenty of talented examples. However, there is a wider concern that the Government cuts will affect women disproprotionatelly. So much so that cross-party support for a select committee dedicated to [...]

    • http://twitter.com/queerresistance/status/75305943038038016 Queer Resistance

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | Left Foot Forward http://fb.me/ZjlCDet2

    • http://twitter.com/beescope/status/75307498667651072 Chris Goode

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | Left Foot Forward http://fb.me/ZjlCDet2

    • http://twitter.com/shelleysilas/status/75307940663410689 Shelley Silas

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | Left Foot Forward http://fb.me/ZjlCDet2

    • http://twitter.com/scattermoon/status/76228952296914944 Elaine O’Neill

      Women bear over two-thirds of Coalition's tax rises and benefit cuts | Left Foot Forward http://fb.me/ZjlCDet2