“We’re all trying to do one thing: Live” The impact of our social security system, and how it needs to change, as told by women who use it

A weak financial foundation worsens physical On the interaction with the DWP, the women call and mental health for the immediate overhaul of conditionality and sanctions, promoting a fairer approach that listens Physical and mental health are directly impacted and learns from the experience of those navigating by the constant juggling of bills and the burden the system every day. [...] By 2019, it was estimated that of the £56bn in cumulative cuts to social security since 2010, 57% would be The crises of the early 2020s have ripped into coming from women’s pockets.9 Policies such as the finances of low-income families across the two-child limit and benefit cap, both of which the UK, exacerbating economic insecurity and the reduce the maximum support a household can risk of desti. [...] During the interviews, • Work: 4 of the 16 women were in work, one was the researchers shared materials explaining the NLI working part-time on a zero-hours contract and policy including two graphs showing a comparison the others were in self-employment at the time between UC and the NLI and opened a discussion of the interview. [...] She couldn’t afford the other 20% them to find employment that accommodates their so it wasn’t cost effective, in the end, for her to go to caring responsibilities: work because she had to pay for travel, pay for the childcare and pay for uniform and by the time she I would love to go back to work. [...] The system should enable individuals Following the analysis of these critiques and to make choices and pursue opportunities that identification of common themes, we developed a align with their goals and aspirations and allow set of principles that should underpin the design them to provide care to their families.