iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Good to hear the Prime Minister saying to @bbclaurak.bsky.social that crude cuts to welfare just push costs elsewhere, and the problems we need to address are the economic failures that put pressure on our social security system. He’s right about this.

Screen shot of Andy Burnham being interviewed by Laura Kunnesberg

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Great to see investment in high streets and community spaces announced today. These are places that help us feel confident, connected and in control. 🤔 But these places aren’t just about bricks and mortar. A community space needs people to make it thrive.

Image of people making food in a community kitchen

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

What would a bold policy offer look like that supported communities to be connected, confident and in-control? What if we acknowledged community spaces, organisations, groups and activities are essential? These are questions we have been asking at @jrf-uk.bsky.social

Image of people people doing activities together in a bright colourful community centre

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Number of families hitting the benefit cap has shot up as some of those spared the 2 child limit hit the cap instead. This is why we need a Protected Minimum Floor in Universal Credit- so there is a limit to how much can be deducted from benefits, protecting families from deep poverty

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

How does poverty increase the chances of a young person becoming NEET? Why does it make it harder to get back into earning or learning? This is a brilliant in-depth piece by Jackie Long @channel4news.bsky.social. So much respect for Joe, Joseph and Chayla’s bravery & honesty youtu.be/iT2obBE6r14

youtu.be

Britain’s youth struggling to find work in NEET crisis

YouTube video by Channel 4 News

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

New: Poverty and inadequate income are major drivers of young people becoming NEET- not in employment education or training 📈Persistent poverty triples the risk of not earning or learning 👛Inadequate income holds young people back from returning to earning or learning

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

📣 new from @jrf-uk.bsky.social Community spaces, groups and activities are essential. They build community resilience, and help us feel secure and able to take on life’s challenges. But this social infrastructure is under pressure and past policy has fallen short. We need a bold new approach ⬇️

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The PM has described his changes to technical education as not just an education reform but a different approach to welfare too. It's refreshing, and he's right. Tackling the failures that put pressure on our welfare system is the route to popular and lasting change. 1/3

Screen shot of part of a Times article from 28/07/26 reading:

"That’s why I see this as more than just education reform. It’s a different approach to welfare too.

Instead of 16-year-olds leaving school with only dead ends, we’re investing early — helping young people build successful working lives from the start. It isn’t the only answer — we’ll need to look at the health of our young people too — but it is an essential part of building a country that supports success rather than pays for failure. I’m determined to unlock the potential of the next generation, tackle the youth unemployment crisis, and bring the welfare bill down in a way that lasts."

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

A record number of families are going without the essentials, our research finds. That's 7.4 million households. New PM Andy Burnham has promised to put tackling the cost of living "front and centre" of his government. Bold policy choices are needed to make that happen:

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Burnham wants a 'fair and sustainable' approach to welfare. That means targeting the underlying causes of people's need to claim benefits - which is far more popular with the public (59%) than cutting eligibility (20%) or benefit rates (8%). 1/3

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Ruth Curtice @ruthcurtice.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

As debates rage about where to get the money for higher defence spending, it’s important we have a clear picture of how we spent the peace dividend while it was around. Thread 🧵⤵️

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Stephen Evans @stephenevans.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

New stats seems to show the Government's Connect to Work programme, to help disabled people into work, has only helped half as many people as it expected in January. Decent results for those on it, but there's not enough on it. I say seems to, as it's so far off maybe I'm wrong. But I can't see how.

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Rachel Casey @rachelcasey.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

🧵 1/ The Milburn Review is right to sound the alarm 🚨 Rising numbers of young people out of work or education should concern all of us. This reflects deep, structural challenges - not a short-term blip.

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Sam Tims @sam-tims.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Social security is carrying too much of the cost of economic failure elsewhere A policy reset is clearly needed In a new @jrf-uk.bsky.social paper, we argue that addressing the drivers of economic insecurity can sustainably ease pressure on the income safety net and improve living standards

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

📣 New from @jrf-uk.bsky.social Blunt cuts to social security don’t work- we need to tackle root causes of need. Hitting govt 80% employment target would reduce Universal Credit spend by £10bn Polling shows 59% public want causes to be tackled. Just 20% want restricted eligibility & 8% cut rates.

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

🚨 NEW! Our report out today concludes rent controls can ease the pressure on renters, without jeopardising the private rented sector. A rent control could: - Make renters nearly £1200 a year better off by 2030 - Reduce the housing benefit bill by £600m, even with annual LHA uprating Here's how 👇

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Renters' Reform Coalition @rentersreformco.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

Today, England's 11 million renters receive the biggest upgrade in their rights for a generation. Here are the top five reasons we're excited for the Renters' Rights Act to come into force 👇

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Peter Matejic @statspeter.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

Join us! This is a very important role, working with some brilliant analysts (and others!)

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

450,000 children no longer in poverty - and may more in less severe poverty - as the two child limit is scrapped. A change that will see children supported when their family hits hard times, whether they are the 1st, 2nd or 3rd child to be born into their family. A good start for every child.

Brightly coloured image of families with children watching balloons in the shapes of “450,000” floating upwards lifting a banner reading “children lifted out of poverty”

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Child Poverty Action Group @cpaguk.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

Today the two-child limit is gone. Parents have told us what this will mean for their kids: - A first-ever birthday party for a 10-year-old - Better quality food - Clothes that aren't completely worn out - Going on the school trip without getting into debt - A new mattress - Swimming lessons

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Peter Matejic @statspeter.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

The story in yesterday’s poverty data? A small rise in poverty in Labour’s first year, up by 500k to 13.4 million in 2024/25. ⬆️working-age adults in poverty went up by 300k ⬆️number of pensioner in poverty went up by 200k ↔️child poverty stayed flat. More action needed! 1/7

An infographic saying that there were around 13.4 million people were in poverty in 2024/25, a rise of 500,000 in overall poverty between 2023/24 and 2024/25. This was made up of:
4.0 million children (no change)
7.7 million working-age adults [up 300k]
1.7 million pensioners [up 200k]

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

📊 A big change to the way official poverty statistics are constructed comes into effect this year. Family Resources Survey responses and official government benefit records will now be linked for the first time. 📝 In this short explainer video, we take you through what the changes mean.

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

🗣️ 'Not only is this a problem for individuals and families, it's a problem for our economy.' Hear from our Principal Policy Adviser @katieschmuecker.bsky.social in BBC Panorama's latest episode on the continuing cost of living crisis. 📹 Starts from 08:30 www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

bbc.co.uk

Panorama - Living without Life’s Little Luxuries

With the cost-of-living crisis still squeezing household budgets, Colletta Smith investigates the consequences for communities, jobs and everyday life.

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The Policy Institute @policyatkings.bsky.social · 24/03/2026

"Trusted with money and no conditions attached, the young people in our trial made choices that reduced their demand on crisis services across the board." ✍️ Writing for @bigissue.com, @michael-sanders.bsky.social argues our cash transfers study challenges traditional assumptions about welfare

bigissue.com

How UK could save money by giving out cash – not cutting benefits

Benefit cuts and sanctions are often part of government reforms to save money – but studies show free cash handouts could be more effective.

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Pride in Place’s commitment to community-led investment in neighbourhood is so needed. But new JRF analysis maps the areas overlooked for funding in England: disproportionately in the north and some ranked as facing among the greatest challenges. They should be priority for expanding the programme.

Map of doubly disadvantaged neighbourhoods in England (economically deprived with weaker social infrastructure of community groups, spaces and activities). Red dots mark neighbourhoods in the most deprived 10% that have not received phase 1 or 2 Pride in Place funding. They are disproportionately in the north of England.

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Peter Matejic @statspeter.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

Speedy analysis from @jrf-uk.bsky.social . This is how modelled household incomes evolve over the Parliament after deducting housing costs. It's a disappointing picture. Let's hope the Government beat the forecasts, although the headwinds from the current conflict shouldn't be underestimated.

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Resolution Foundation @resolutionfoundation.org · 03/03/2026

How has today's forecast affected the outlook for welfare spending? There has been little change, and considering spending as a share of GDP it does not look out of control.

chart showing Welfare spending as a share of GDP (left) and in real terms (right), by category, outturn and forecast: UK

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

More than two-thirds of households struggling to afford a decent life are in work. New research from @lborouniversity.bsky.social funded by JRF, sets out the scale of the problem. A 🧵

A photo of JRF Chief Analyst with a quote about the latest Households Below MIS report. Peter says: When millions of lives continue to be blighted by rising costs and wages that are refusing to catch it's on all political parties to show their commitment to raising living standards. Only by bringing people's costs down and boosting their incomes will people start to feel better off by the end of the decade."

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 10/02/2026

Decisions about the rate of benefits should be linked to the actual cost of essentials. Good to see parliamentarians calling out how arbitrary the current approach is ⤵️

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 03/02/2026

🌞Today is a turning point, as legislation to remove the two child limit starts to make its way through parliament. The policy was a terrible idea. It drove poverty up and future prospects down. @jrf-uk.bsky.social has joined 65 orgs to urge all MPs to stand with children & support the Bill.

Statement reading:
This is a historic day for children and families across the UK as legislation to remove the two-child limit from our social security system starts to make its way through Parliament.

The two-child limit was an awful experiment that hurt children. More than any other policy, the two-child limit is responsible for driving child poverty to its current record high.

Poverty has a devastating impact on young lives. Children going without things they need to learn and grow, living in damp homes, struggling at school, facing isolation and stress.

Today marks the moment when we start to turn things around for the next generation. We commend the government for making the choice to scrap the two-child limit and ask all MPs to stand with children and support this Bill.

Every child deserves the best start in life, with a decent childhood that lays the foundations for a strong future. Ending the two-child limit sets our country on the right path to meet that ambition.

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

A shocking fact about the UK benefits system ⬇️

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

📣 Our new UK Poverty report is out! It shows very deep poverty (6.8m people) and child poverty (4.5m children) were both at record highs when Labour took power in 2024. It also shows how policy choices can change the picture… 🧵1/5

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

🗣️ 'The government came to power with a commitment to end the need for food banks. This promise really matters.' Our Principal Policy Adviser @katieschmuecker.bsky.social sets out the implications of 6.8 million people living in very deep poverty at the time of the last general election 🔽

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Peter Matejic @statspeter.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

One of the highlights of this and previous years' reports was working with the Grassroots Poverty Action Group. It's important to hear real stories and struggles, and not just reduce this to a commentary on statistics, up or down. Policies and decisions have real impacts!

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Laurie Dunkin Wedd @ldw1.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

Devastating child poverty interview with @katieschmuecker.bsky.social of @jrf-uk.bsky.social on @bbc5live.bsky.social this morning. The social cost of poverty is incalculable. Starts at 06.20. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Radio 5 Live - Listen Live - BBC Sounds

Listen live to Radio 5 Live on BBC Sounds

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 27/01/2026

📢Your essential guide to poverty in the UK is out! When Labour came to power, very deep poverty & child poverty were at record levels. Some vital changes have been made- like scrapping the two child limit- but that needs to be the beginning not the end of the Government's ambition.

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Joseph Rowntree Foundation @jrf-uk.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

📉 This morning, the government published its full Child Poverty Strategy, setting out plans to reduce hardship for children growing up in the UK by the end of the parliament. It's a crucial commitment to delivering on one of their central manifesto promises.

Quote card showing JRF's Principal Policy Adviser Katie Schmuecker saying: 'The government has put its money where its mouth is on the manifesto commitment to reduce child poverty, and recognised the severe and acute poverty an alarming number of children are facing. This child poverty strategy will mean fewer children facing unacceptable hardship, but more will be needed to ensure every child gets the best start.'

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Peter Matejic @statspeter.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

"That would mean the single greatest fall [in child poverty] in one Parliament since records began." Look at how this Parliament could compare to previous ones back to 1964. An excellent foundation to build from, as @katieschmuecker.bsky.social says.

DWP modelling shows a fall of 400,000 in child poverty over the current Parliament. This would be the biggest on record, exceeding falls of 300,000 under the first Government of Tony Blair and the Government of Harold Wilson and James Callaghan

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Lifting more than half a million children out of poverty by the end of the parliament - now that's the government putting its money where its mouth is on its manifesto commitment to reduce child poverty. More to do, but a good foundation to build from.

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Government coming good on its manifesto pledge to reduce child poverty Over 500,000 children out of poverty by the end of the parliament. There’s more to do to make sure every child gets a good start in life, but this is a solid foundation www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.com

Families to be offered help to leave temporary accommodation under UK child poverty strategy

Government says series of measures, including childcare support, will lift 500,000 out of poverty

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 29/11/2025

Every child should get a good start in life, and universal credit should be there for people when they fall on hard times. Removing the 2 child limited will lift 450,000 children out of poverty, and lessen its severity for many more.

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

📣New @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis Scrapping the 2 child limit alone has reversed the projected decline in living standards by *more than half* for the bottom third of households 1/2

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

The Chancellor made a bold claim today that this parliament will see the biggest reduction in child poverty since records began. If the Budget doc projection of child poverty falling by 400,000 is right, so is the claim. Removing the two child limit is pivotal to this reduction.

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Iain Porter @iainkporter.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

Today the OBR finally published employment impacts of Govt’s (remaining) disability benefit cuts, which weren’t ready in the spring. Confirms @jrf-uk.bsky.social analysis at the time that these huge cuts to disabled people’s incomes come with relatively few expected to move into work. 🧵1/3

Image from OBR's Budget docuoment: "Our economy forecast now incorporates the net effect of the changes to universal credit (UC)
policies which remain in force following the policy changes made in July. We estimate these will add around 15,000 average hours equivalent (AHE) to labour supply in 2029-30. This reflects
the net effect of: (1) the increase in the generosity of the UC standard allowance, which is expected to reduce recipients’ financial incentive to enter or remain in employment, leading to an estimated 11,000 AHE reduction to labour supply; and (2) the reductions in the generosity of and eligibility for health-related benefits in UC, which
are expected to lower income for new claimants, increasing work incentives, and resulting in an estimated 26,000 AHE increase in labour supply. We have also assessed the new employment support programme announced in the Green Paper. Based on evidence from similar past schemes, combined with the Department for Work
and Pensions’ range of estimates of the numbers of individuals that could be provided with support, we estimate that the programme could support 20,000 to 40,000 inactive claimants"

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

🎉Child poverty is at a record high, so the decision to end the two child limit is crucial Poverty holds children back, with consequences for all of us. Every child should have a good start in life This measure alone lifts 450,000 out of poverty & lessens severity for many more

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Katie Schmuecker @katieschmuecker.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

3 key policies @jrf-uk.bsky.social will be looking for in today’s Busget

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