The UK government’s Welfare Benefits Up-rating Bill will hit even seriously ill people and their families, specialists have pointed out. The controversial measure involves limiting increases in most working-age benefits to one per cent a year for three years from 2013-14 – a drop in real terms, since the cost of living is rising considerably faster.

The Welfare Benefits Uprating Bill, which the UK government is pushing through the House of Commons today (8 January 2013) is a ‘double lockout bill’ that cuts real support for workers and jobseekers by four per cent, says the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG).

A proposal to cut benefits for obese and unhealthy people who fail to attend exercise sessions has hit the headlines. People of ordinary weight and in good health could lose money too.