Instituting Universal Credit in the United Kingdom, the 2012 Welfare Reform Act unified various minimum social income levels for those in receipt of benefits. This affected people with disabilities, either directly through the gradual absorption of the main non-contributory and means-tested disability allowance, or indirectly through the impact of removing other social benefits which often opened the door to various forms of supplementary disability benefits. The same reform made conditions more stringent for the award of independent living payments not included in Universal Credit. In addition, there is a cap on the total amount of benefits granted to the same family.
These measures, which were implemented in a general context of budget cuts, have alarmed disabled people and their families. Need they fear increasing poverty?