Mini-Chat
The Chancellor skated over details of his new welfare cap as if he was on the thin ice of a frozen pond which might break at any moment and swallow him up. And he gave few details anyway.
We know that in 2015-16 welfare will be plugged at £119billion, going up to £122billion in 2016-17 and £124.6billion in 2017-18. These sound like big sums, but if you do the sums they mean cuts.
Osborne gave an idea where the axe might fall, but not how much would be chopped off each time it does.
Jobseekers, Universal Credit claimants with no other income, pensioners and over-75s with free TV licences can breathe a sigh of relief; they won't be affected.
Carers, the disabled, Bedroom Tax victims, pregnant women, child benefit recipients and a long list of others will. Winter fuel and cold weather payments also face reductions.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/budget-201 ... gs-3261599
