Another Blow for Child Poverty

The 2009 Welfare Act changed the rules on benefit for lone parents. A huge number were moved to Jobseeker’s Allowance where they have to be available for employment and actively seek work. This is down to the policymakers not understanding the nature and consequences of Domestic Violence. Its not just about the practicalities that kick in - like finding a new home, sorting out new schools coping with all the trauma the abuse has caused. Often these women, and it is mostly women, have physical problems, mental problems and confidence levels that are at ground level. They simply may not be able to look for paid work or go for a job or interview at short notice. Domestic violence accounts for between 16 and 25 per cent of all violent crime; in any one year, there are 13 million separate incidents of physical violence or threats of violence against women from partners or former partners.


JCP advisers have discretionary powers to defer these rules for domestic emergencies, but the House of Lords was concerned that advisers might not realise the full traumatic results of domestic abuse .The 2009 Act was amended to introduce an automatic 13-week deferral period, in addition to discretionary powers. Adding the discretionary and non-discretionary periods together, people facing particularly hardship will be able to claim JSA for up to 24 weeks before they have to be available for employment.

But to qualify for the deferral period, a claimant will have to provide written evidence that they are victims of domestic violence.

One characteristic of domestic violence is that it takes place at home, leaves no evidence and victims often do not report it. Victims are even more unlikely to be able to provide evidence of intimidation and psychological abuse.

A supplement to the 1996 British Crime Survey looked specifically at the extent of domestic violence. The BCS is based on face-to-face interviews; the supplement was based on a self-completed questionnaire – thus giving a more robust indication of those deterred from reporting their experiences. In 1995, there were 6.6 million incidents of domestic physical assault, more than six times as many as the 987,000 reported in the 1995 British Crime Survey.

Adding to the concerns is 23 of the 127 specialist domestic violence courts established since 2005 are to be closed. These courts were established to make it easier for victims to give evidence. Their closure will make it harder for victims to provide evidence in support of their claim for deferral.

Cuts in the Voluntary sector will also make it harder again to get help, Specialists like Women’s Aid. who could maybe help are being hit by cuts In March, a survey by Women’s Aid found 60% of its refuge services and 72% of its outreach services had no funding agreed from April 1st.

This is where not joining up the dots and looking at policy on the round causes more problems that it solves.

Do Cameron and Clegg really want to hit these already bruised and battered families even more?

This abuse is a blight on society and predictions are it will increase as redundancies and loss of earnings kick in. Do we really expect some of the most vulnerable people in our society to get out there leave traumatised children and get jobs?

Oh and what jobs?