Britain’s social safety net is one of the weakest in the rich world and its poorest households are worse off than counterparts in Slovenia, according to analysis that shows jobless benefits have covered the cost of essentials in just two of the past 14 years.
The report by the National Institute of Social and Economic Research comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer seeks to convince Labour MPs to back welfare reforms that will cut financial support for the sick and disabled in order to bolster the public finances.
Spending on health-related benefits has risen sharply since the pandemic and ministers are preparing to cut about £5bn from the projected £41bn cost of personal independence payments, the main disability benefit, by 2029-30.
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