New research from the Fawcett society and the Institute of Fiscal Studies has found that single mothers are, on average, among the biggest losers from the Government’s tax and benefit changes.

Single mothers, the report says, can expect to lose 8.5% of their annual net income by 2015, the equivalent of losing a month’s pay each year. Lone fathers are not spared either, the shake-up of the welfare system means they could lose as much as 7.5% of their household income.

The research, which analysed the impact of the Government’s tax and benefit changes by gender and household, found that single women were hardest hit of all. Commenting on the findings, the Acting Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society, Anna Bird, said “The results are clear: women are bearing the brunt of cuts.”

The analysis looked at the consequences of all tax and benefit changes to be introduced from 2010/11 to 2014/15 based on the June 2010 emergency budget, the October 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review and the March 2011 Budget.
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