Family cap and ‘rape clause’ slammed by Scots organisations
Many women’s organisations and others have severely criticised the new family cap on benefits and the so-called ‘rape clause’.
There is a newly introduced family cap for child tax credits or the child element of Universal Credit payments for third or subsequent children. This has been criticised on the grounds that it interferes with women’s reproductive rights and discriminates against women from certain communities or faiths.
The new policy includes that women could claim child tax credits and Universal Credit payments for third and subsequent children if they were conceived as a result of rape. Organisations argue that this could force disclosure of rape against a woman’s wishes for many reasons, and potentially placing her in danger.
Scottish Women’s Aid, rape Crisis Scotland and Engender have also submitted a petition to the UK Parliament petitions Committee. The petition is available here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/195077
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