06/03/2012

Welfare Reform Will 'Hit Poor Hard'

An organisation, which represents Northern Ireland’s voluntary sector, has said that the government’s welfare reform bill will hit the poor hardest.

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA) has warned that the welfare reform bill will take £500m a year out of the NI economy.

Indeed many are describing the Bill, which passed through its final stage in the House of Lords on 1 March and applies to England, Scotland and Wales, as the most radical shake up of the social security system in over four decades.

Seamus McAleavey, Chief Executive of NICVA, said: "There is a real fear that the Welfare Reform Bill will have a negative impact on the people of Northern Ireland, and their lives."

The bill is expected to be introduced into the Northern Ireland Assembly this month and changes to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are expected to have the biggest impact on people in Northern Ireland.

(LB/GK)

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