Rebecca McDonald
@R_McDonald_
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Head of Policy @ Policy in Practice Formerly New Zealand Treasury and @jrf_uk Chief Economist
London, UK
Joined August 2013
@FT We use @policy_practice's unique access to admin data to dig into the exact impacts of removing the limit on low income households - read more here:
policyinpractice.co.uk
New analysis finds that 1 in 10 children hit by the two child limit won't benefit from its removal unless the Chancellor lifts the Benefit Cap too
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👇 I spoke to @darrenpjones #committeecorridor about the continuing cost of living issue - we discussed latest @jrf_uk research highlighting how difficult this winter already is for millions of lower-income households. Read the full report here
jrf.org.uk
This report makes clear that the Government support provided so far in the cost of living crisis hasn’t been sufficient to stem the rising tide of hardship for millions of families on the lowest...
Food price inflation hit >16% in the year up to October. The cost of living close to its highest level in 40 years. Our final series 2 episode, #CommitteeCorridor asks who’s paying for this, and how? #CostOfLivingCrisis
@darrenpjones speaks to @jrf_uk @R_McDonald_, @hbaldwin
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🚨New @jrf_uk report on the state of the COL crisis is out. It is so scary. 💷7.2m going without basics 💷4.7m in arrears 💷2.4m borrowing to pay bills 💷5.7m hungry, cutting or skipping meals It's particularly bad for v low income hhlds, private renters and 18-34s. 🧵1/x
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Different income groups “came into this period of energy bill increases with very different levels of vulnerability” @R_McDonald_ @jrf_uk in a taster of our latest podcast, in which she and @hamishlow_econ @OxfordEconDept discuss the cost of living crisis. Out tomorrow
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“We could have had more resilience built in” – the last episode of our current podcast series lands next week. @R_McDonald_ @jrf_uk and @hamishlow_econ @OxfordEconDept talk about the cost of living crisis: who’s been hit the hardest and what can government do?
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@jrf_uk will keep talking about this and do our bit to keep this front of mind. We'll be publishing updated cost of living analysis next month.
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Attention has fully shifted to April 2023 onwards, meaning the continued struggles of millions of families this winter are at risk of being forgotten. We cannot understate current hardship - millions are unable to stay warm and fed.
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(3) I'm pleased much of the burden of fiscal consolidation is falling on those most able to bear it, avoiding a repeat of previous cuts. BUT I'm still worried about public services weakening further as inflation raises costs.
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(2) I'm hugely relieved about significant cost of living support next year for lower-income families (uprating, COL payments, cap on energy bills), BUT deeply concerned about the severity of hardship this winter with no extra help.
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(1) I'm v glad the 10.1% benefit uprating was confirmed, BUT acutely aware that benefits still remain at inadequate levels after years of cuts and freezes. Real benefit incomes will be maintained next year, but those incomes are still dangerously low.
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It's hard to have one overall response to today's #autumnstatement - each positive reflection is dampened by a concern - each celebration of a good announcement tempered by reality of poverty this winter:
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#AutumnStatement brings huge relief for families facing a "historic cut" but @R_McDonald_ says "however families are facing the worst winter many will remember and can’t wait for April – they need the help now to get through a winter of soaring costs."
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Some very welcome support in the statement - benefits up with inflation, COL payments, and benefit cap lifted. ✅✅✅ BUT no support to help with the intense hardship being felt now, and that will be felt through the winter, it's a waiting game until April✖️
My big test for the Autumn Statement today will be whether the measures to support low income households will be sufficient to offset the big hits of rising social rents, council tax, income tax threshold freezes, frozen LHA, PLUS rising energy bills, housing and food prices.
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So my initial verdict on #AutumnStatement for those on low incomes: 1. Huge relief benefits won't be cut next April & additional cost of living payments welcome too. 2. Raising Benefit Cap very important and welcome too. But... 3. This winter will be incredibly difficult...1/2
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New inflation figures out this morning for October - and it's the highest rate in over 40 years - with CPI at 11.1%. Driven mainly by food, transport and energy prices, its hitting everyone's budgets, but it is decimating budgets for those on the lowest incomes. Small 🧵here: 1/x
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📢 How can JRF help you generate new evidence on how much earnings and income fluctuate in the UK? 📢 Do you have ideas for how to fill this evidence gap in within-year volatility? Could JRF help you deliver this? We'd love to hear from you! https://t.co/o0sm91Pxqv
💡 Call for Ideas 💡 We're looking for ideas on how to fill the gap in evidence on within-year earnings and income volatility in the UK. Do you have ideas and would like to work with us? If so, we’d love to hear from you. More info here 👇
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Despite being necessary to tackle inflation, this rise in interest rates will have v real, painful impacts - unfortunately this higher cost of borrowing coincides with many low-income families needing loans to help cover rapidly rising bills/prices this year
📈 Today's interest rate rise will mean more fear and unease for people on low incomes who are already facing impossible choices between heating their homes and feeding their families. 📈 Here's why 👇 🧵 #InterestRates
https://t.co/joU2b3ypCi
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There is no possible justification - moral or economic - for treating pensions and working age benefits differently come April. We mustn't forget the context here: next year is set to bring simply huge income falls for lower income households
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