Human rights in the UK in crisis as new report exposes crushing evidence of a social security system ruining lives

• Discrimination and dehumanisation reported as rife as punitive system drives poverty by policy 

• ‘I am barely holding on financially. I always feel just one step away from rock bottom’ - Isla

• ‘Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design' - Neil Cowan, Amnesty 

Amnesty International UK’s new report takes a deep dive into the UK social security system. The unique research is an extensive look through the lens of human rights violations across our basic rights to housing, food, education, healthcare and social security. 

The evidence delivers damning conclusions on how the system processes, punishes, harms and dehumanises people and fails to meet international legal obligations. Successive UK governments have ignored the UN’s pleas to take urgent action to fix this. 

Poverty is a visible sign of a failing social security system. When the UK government knowingly makes choices to make poverty worse, it is deliberately violating basic human rights. We have moved from a society that supports people to a punitive system that drives poverty by policy. 

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*. Of these, 5.2 million are children, 9.2 million are working-age adults, and 1.5 million are pension-age adults. While poverty rates in Scotland are now marginally lower than in the rest of the UK, 20% of people in Scotland are living in the grip of poverty including almost one in four children. 

For its report ’Social Insecurity’ Amnesty’s collaborated with over 700 benefit claimants – including 74 claimant interviews in Scotland - and advisors to provide a platform for the people most gravely affected and show how politicians are playing with people’s lives and ignoring our most basic rights. In 2024 86% of low-income families on Universal Credit went without essentials such as heating, food and clothing. 

With the backdrop of the Spring Statement and devastating disability social security cuts, Amnesty’s report delivers a crushing blow of evidence on the UK’s social security system and political choices that have pushed people into poverty and centres real-life experiences throughout, demonstrating the depth of dehumanisation. 

Recommendations from the report call for: 

• System overhaul: A landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to overhaul the UK’s broken social security system—rooted in dignity and human rights. 

•  Urgent protection from harm: The UK Government to urgently reverse harmful social security cuts, sanctions and caps including the two-child limit and ensure upcoming reforms of PIP, ESA and Universal Credit, meet international human rights standards and are shaped by those most affected. 

•  Legal protections: The UK Government to put in place legal frameworks protecting economic, social and cultural rights to ensure everyone’s basic human rights to food, housing, and dignity are protected in law and prevent failures in social security policy from causing wider harms. 

Sections of the report expose: 

1. Systemic failures and lack of dignity and respect: 

Reports of hostile attitudes and judgmental behaviour within the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) illustrate systemic shortcomings. The current system fails to meet its obligations to treat claimants with humanity and compassion, contributing to distrust and trauma of vulnerable individuals. 

“Client had a Personal Independent Payment claim terminated as they would only offer a telephone appointment, despite them being profoundly deaf”. (Social Security Advisor) 

 “So food prices have gone 100% up, but then the Universal Credit maybe just 30% up, so there is no match with inflation and that's why you have to go to some charities for food banks... I don't have anything in the kitchen.” (Claimant, Scotland)

“I was actually left with no money... I was on the phone going ‘what am I meant to do until all this is sorted?’ And they were like ‘nothing’... Nobody could help me.” (Claimant, Scotland)

“Not everybody, but there's an attitude that can develop within workers in these places that is poor. It's a poor attitude and they don't have the understanding that you're very vulnerable.” (Claimant, Scotland)

2. Restricted access to Social Security and discriminatory practices:

There are discriminatory conditions that restrict access for marginalised groups, inadequate transparency in eligibility criteria, and insufficient efforts to ensure effective, fair and transparent appeal processes. 

“Every time someone is assessed inappropriately for benefits, it takes extra time and money for the mistake to be corrected. Most often the claimants suffer, but the taxpayers also suffer owing to the additional administration and resolution costs which need to be met”. (Advisor) 

Social Security advisors across the country described how difficult access to information about entitlements and processes are. 64% of advisors rated it very difficult or difficult to get access to information on Universal Credit, and 68% of advisors said the same for PIP and 58% for ESA.

Of 416 claimants who responded to the question, 52% rated access to Social Security schemes as difficult or very difficult.

3. Unjust and ill-informed decisions on sanctions and deductions:

23% of the claimants who completed Amnesty research had experienced being sanctioned or having a deduction. Within this, 78% of people said it worsened their mental health. 55% told us they reduced the food they ate and 35% went without food. 47% of people stated that it worsened their physical health. 44% of people told us they were forced to borrow money to make ends meet. 

“Client lost benefits and home after being turned down for not attending the assessment as he soiled himself on the train to assessment centre and had to go home”. (Advisor) 

“I’ve been sanctioned loads of time because I’m working. Borrowed off my sister and mother. Without them, I would probably be dead in the gutter because I couldn’t afford to live” (Claimant) 

“They look down on you when you walk into the job centre. I had a panic attack in the job centre. I couldn’t breathe, and she went “you better get upstairs now and see your work coach, or we are going to sanction you” (Claimant) 

“The actual interview is on the phone when they talk to you. They only give you one call… If you missed that one call, they sanction that. They should give at least 3 rings at least give you a chance.” (Claimant) 

Neil Cowan, Scotland Director for Amnesty International UK, said: 

“Lives are being ruined by a system that is consciously cruel – it erodes dignity by design and violates people’s human rights daily.

“The UK social security system is impenetrable, inadequate, and for some completely inaccessible. It is forcing people across Scotland and the rest of the UK to make impossible choices that not one of us should have to make.

“The UK Government has been right to state that the system is broken. Any system that creates and compounds the levels of poverty that we see across our communities is a broken one. But rather than cutting support for disabled people while maintaining some of the system’s most atrocious policies like the two-child limit, UK ministers should be overhauling the system so that it prevents and reduces poverty, while protecting people’s rights.

“We need a landmark, independent Social Security Commission with statutory powers to build a UK social security system that loosens, rather than tightens, the grip of poverty on people’s lives. 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.

“We also need the Scottish Government to learn lessons from this report, by doing more to ensure that the Scottish social security system provides people with the support they need. This should include increasing the Scottish Child Payment so that it goes further in driving down poverty across Scotland.”

Voices of the campaign 

Isla 60’s lives in the Scottish Borders.

Her son’s illness after birth meant he didn't come home until he was thirteen months old. Isla has been his carer ever since and receives carers allowance and universal credit. 

In speaking about being a carer and living in a remote location when on social security, Isla said: 

“I am barely holding on financially. I always feel just one step away from rock bottom.” 

“I didn’t choose to be a carer and struggle on social security, but when my son was born, I didn’t have a choice. I work tirelessly providing 24-hour care for my son, but because it's unpaid, it’s not considered actual work. It should be. I worry about what will happen to my son when I’m no longer around. 

“The poorest in society have become easy targets. It feels like people are being pitted against each other, rather than addressing the real issues. In countries where the wealthiest are taxed more, social care, social security and healthcare are significantly better. There are many ways like this to tackle inequality, but political will is needed to make these changes.” 

“I receive universal credit and carers allowance, but I have to make that stretch. Moving to universal credit was hard and I dreaded it. It meant the payments changed to monthly which put immense pressure on budgeting. On top of that, the amount I receive is not enough for the basics, which means it’s a constant battle to make ends meet.” 

“To apply for universal credit, I had to provide official ID. I used the online form that they have but my passport had expired, and I don’t have driver's license. This meant I had to travel over 20 miles to the job centre which I simply couldn’t pay for.” 

“It’s not just cost of travel, food here is also expensive. I live in a remote area which is considered affluent, which means most shops are independent rather than affordable supermarket chains. As a result, I often have to buy food online or buy things that are expired just to make sure my family and I have enough to eat.” 

John, 60’s, from Hampshire was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) quite late on in life – in his 60s.

It progressed much faster than he could have ever expected. “In August 2021, before I even knew what was happening to me, I was still working at the Ministry of Defence as a Policy Advisor. I was deployed to Afghanistan to help with the evacuation. Before my diagnosis, I had spent years working and contributing, and I never once thought I would be in a position where I needed to rely on benefits.” 

In speaking about the experience of applying for Personal Independence Payment (PiP), John said: 

“Applying was a nightmare. The process was so difficult and one-sided. When I finally received my assessment, DWP had scored me zero for the impact MS had on my daily life. Zero. If they had at least acknowledged some of the difficulties, if they had scored me a five or six or even a seven instead of the eight, I needed, I might have accepted it. But to say that MS had no impact on my life at all? That was infuriating. 

“There is a bus stop 100 meters from my house. Usain Bolt could get there in less than 10 seconds whereas it takes me 10 minutes, but we would both score a zero for impact of MS on our lives. It’s ridiculous.” 

Carly, 39, London is a single mother to a young son.

She was recently receiving Universal credit, with contributions towards housing and her son’s childcare costs. Despite having good knowledge of the process from a prior job, she found navigating the social security system difficult. 

In speaking about Universal Credit and the challenges that occur when benefits are wrongly cancelled, Carly said: 

“As a single parent, working in a temporary role, I was not earning enough to cover private rental fees. My son had just started nursery, and I had a lot of expenses that my salary couldn’t cover. I applied for benefits with a five week wait – which was a very difficult time. 

“When my role was made permanent, I got a lump sum of holiday pay in my paycheck – meaning I was paid more that month than usual. Unexpectedly, this led to my benefits claim being incorrectly cancelled. I wasn’t contacted about this and had no idea until the money didn’t appear in my bank account. I was crying on the phone telling my landlord I couldn’t pay my rent. I had a terrible ten-week wait until my social security payments started again and had to borrowed money from friends and family. I was offered an advance before the claim came through – but I’d already had one to pay for nursery fees and didn’t want to get into further debt.

“I did lodge a complaint about the cancellation of my benefits, but the claim wasn’t upheld, and I felt I didn’t have the time or energy to fight it. 

“The hardest thing about the social security system is the uncertainty and insecurity around it all. It was very mentally challenging to not know when or how much my payments would be. I lived in fear of uploading the wrong information and having my benefits cancelled again. The worst part is the feeling like you have no control over anything. You always feel insecure. I was always relieved when universal credit went in, and it was the amount you were expecting. 

“The stigma is real, navigating the system only amplifies it, making an already difficult situation even harder. You have no autonomy, no choice, there’s nothing you can do. It creates a feeling that you aren’t deserving or worthy - that you should be grateful and not challenge anything.” 

Additional case studies 

Valerie*

“Being on benefits in the UK can feel almost taboo- something to keep private and feel embarrassed about. This is sad, because the vast majority of us are just normal people trying to live life the best way we can, raise our families and find whatever happiness there is in life despite the hardships we face.” 

Peter

“I started receiving social security in 2021, just after I finished university. I applied for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) due to a long-term health condition. The PIP application process was atrocious and ultimately took over a year. 

“I had to deal with a lack of understanding about my condition. One of the interviewers mislabelled and misunderstood the medical equipment I use and even went as far as to lecture me about my own illness. I had to get my doctor to write a letter just to confirm what I'd said. 

“I would often be asked the same question three times to see if I'd change my answer. The process feels like you are on trial for murder, they act like they are trying to catch you out and that you are begging. 

“The PIP application needs to be renewed every couple of years or so – despite my disability being due to a long-term health condition that won’t improve over time. It’s like I am starting over again each time. 

“Watching my friends from Uni live their lives makes me feel like I am missing out on a lot. I would like to be able to do more things, to get out and about a bit more – perhaps take a day trip to a local area. Even to travel locally is hard as the buses are too expensive and I can’t afford a car. I don’t want to be on benefits, I'd love to be able to work but I simply can’t.” 

Steve

“I had to stop working 15 years ago. I’d been struggling with severe pain in my right knee for about two years before finally having surgery. That’s when I was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. I somehow managed to keep working through the pain, but eventually, it just became too much. I've now developed Osteoarthritis throughout my whole body. 

“I use a crutch indoors and both crutches whenever I go outside. Getting around is incredibly difficult, but I push myself because if I didn’t get out at all, I’d feel down and alone. 

“Appling for Universal Credit and PIP was tough. Being on benefits doesn’t feel great. I’m in a small studio flat and most days I’m by myself. Going out for shopping is the only time I see anyone. Prices have gone up too, which makes things harder. 

“Losing my mum in 2020, just before lockdown, hit me hard. I still miss her so much. And visiting and being with my dad brings me comfort. It makes things much better for me. Visiting my dad is really hard with my condition. He’s 92 now and lives over three and a half hours away. My sister moved closer to him to help out. I try to go see them when I can, but the journey is a lot. I have to get a train into London, struggle through the underground to catch another train, then a bus, and finally a taxi to his place. Before COVID, I used to take the National Express coach straight to his, then just a taxi. But that route’s been cancelled and it’s now so much longer and more exhausting.”