The UK social security system is pushing people beyond the brink. The government is choosing to make welfare cuts instead of dealing with the drivers of poverty and soaring living costs, according to a new report from Amnesty International.
The report Social Insecurity investigated how cuts, sanctions and systemic failings of the social security system are pushing people deeper into poverty and breaching human rights obligations.
It found that in 2024, 86% of low-income families on Universal Credit went without essentials such as heating, food, and clothing, and the rate of poverty in the UK is now higher than at any point in the 21st century. Sixteen million people in the UK are living in families in poverty—almost a quarter of the UK’s population. Of these, 5.2 million are children, 9.2 million are working-age adults, and 1.5 million are pension-age adults.
Amnesty collaborated with over 700 benefit claimants and advisors for the report to push back at the constant framing of people who are disabled, ill, and unemployed as a ‘burden’.
In March 2025, the UK government published the Pathways to Work Green Paper, which set out proposals to reform the system and make welfare cuts.
Amnesty International examined the potential implications of this Green Paper and found that the proposed changes would reduce coverage from social risk for a marginalised group in a targeted and discriminatory manner.
It said the changes would allow the secretary of state to implement a proposed freeze and welfare cuts to social security rates for disability and incapacity schemes, removing some of the legislative protections against political whims.
If implemented, the extensive forms proposed in the Pathway to Work Green Paper would further undermine the UK social security system’s compliance with the principle of adequacy. They would be a deliberately discriminatory, disproportionate, and retrogressive violation of human rights.
It added that although some positive steps are being taken in devolved governments, broader systemic changes are essential for improving consultation and policy outcomes across the UK.
Jen Clark, Economic and Social Rights Lead at Amnesty International UK, said: “Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design. We are in a state of severe human rights violations. The social security system is impenetrable, inadequate, and for some, completely inaccessible.
“There can be no tinkering of the system – it has gone too far, and it is too late. There must be full reform. It is broken from start to finish and intentionally sets people up to fail. No-one would want political choices in this country to deliberately diminish dignity and perpetuate poverty.
“We need a landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken benefits system. It must be rooted in dignity and human rights and designed by and for the people. This must protect us all – be that today or in the future where we all may need it.”
According to the latest DWP data, there are 24 million social security claimants in Great Britain, including:
• 13 million state pension age;
• 9 million working age;
• 750,000 under 16s receiving disability living allowance.
The UK government’s social security spending for 2024-25 is projected at £315.8 billion, with £167.6 billion for pensioners and £138 billion for working-age welfare. Scotland’s projected social security spending in 2023-24 is £19.5 billion, increasing to £8.0 billion by 2028-29.
