Welfare reforms will cost adults £470 a year

Rochdale will be one of the hardest hit areas in the country when welfare reforms take effect next month.

Research by Sheffield Hallam University shows the average loss per working age adult in Rochdale by 2020/21 will be a massive £470 a year — putting it fourteenth worse after worst-affected Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool on £560. In contrast, the least affected district in 378th place, is Hart in Hampshire at £130, followed by South Buckinghamshire and Richmond on Thames at £140.

Much of southern England outside London escaped relatively lightly. All 10 areas losing least are in the South-East.

Report author Prof Steve Fothergill said: “Many individuals and households in more prosperous parts of the country will barely notice that welfare reform is under way. For others, however, the financial consequences will be only too obvious.”

Rachael Orr, Oxfam head of UK programmes, said: “This report confirms that social security cuts will further entrench deep-seated regional inequalities. They suck money out of already struggling local economies and are likely to push families on low incomes into hardship.”