Tom is an Associate Director at the IFS and Head of the Income, Work and Welfare sector. His research focuses on tax and benefit policy, the low wage labour market, and the interaction of the two. He is the editor of IFS’ flagship reports on Living Standards, Inequality, and Poverty.
Education
MSc Economics (Distinction), University College London, 2014
BA Philosophy, Politics and Economics, University of Oxford, 2012
Official statistics released by DWP today show that by February this year there were 5 million Universal Credit (UC) claimants – double the number seen pre-pandemic.
This report examines how household incomes were changing in the UK up to the eve of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how other measures of household living standards have changed over the course of the pandemic.
In this pre-released chapter from our annual flagship report on living standards, poverty and inequality, we look at the impact the pandemic has had on the labour market.
The unwinding of the furlough scheme represents a step towards ‘normality’ in the labour market, but it also will mean big income losses for many of those who end up unemployed unless they are swiftly able to find alternative employment. In this observation we discuss the kind of support available for such workers via other programmes, and what sort of hit to their income they might see if they do lose their jobs.
IFS researchers presented their initial analysis of the Chancellor's announcements on the public finances, spending on public services, and the tax and the benefit system on Thursday 4 March at an online briefing.
The temporary £20 per week increase in Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit enacted at the start of the pandemic is due to expire at the end of March. Some campaigners have called for it to be extended for another year or made permanent, while the government are said to be considering instead a £500 one off bonus to benefit recipients.
