Have benefits been cut too far or not far enough?

20 March 2016

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Iain Duncan Smith resigned from the Cabinet last week, the quoted reason being “disability cuts are not defensible in a Budget which rewards higher earners”. Yet taking all benefit cuts as a WHOLE, not just disability benefits, over the past few years… Which of the following is closest to your view?

Iain Duncan Smith resigned from the Cabinet last week, the quoted reason being “disability cuts are not defensible in a Budget which rewards higher earners”.

Yet taking all benefit cuts as a WHOLE, not just disability benefits, over the past few years…

Which of the following is closest to your view?

Results

I'm a man aged under 25 (312 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		92 votes (29%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		61 votes (20%)
Things are about right as they are now		29 votes (9%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		110 votes (35%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		20 votes (6%)

I’m a woman aged under 25 (192 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		83 votes (43%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		33 votes (17%)
Things are about right as they are now		7 votes (4%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		67 votes (35%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		2 votes (1%)

I'm a man aged 25 to 34 (1290 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		376 votes (29%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		219 votes (17%)
Things are about right as they are now		120 votes (9%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		521 votes (40%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		54 votes (4%)

I’m a woman aged 25 to 34 (1238 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		528 votes (43%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		235 votes (19%)
Things are about right as they are now		92 votes (7%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		362 votes (29%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		21 votes (2%)

I'm a man aged 35 to 49 (2288 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		782 votes (34%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		364 votes (16%)
Things are about right as they are now		159 votes (7%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		935 votes (41%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		48 votes (2%)

I’m a woman aged 35 to 49 (3015 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		1411 votes (47%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		580 votes (19%)
Things are about right as they are now		152 votes (5%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		846 votes (28%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		26 votes (1%)

I'm a man aged 50 to 64 (2338 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		890 votes (38%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		374 votes (16%)
Things are about right as they are now		129 votes (6%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		904 votes (39%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		41 votes (2%)

I’m a woman aged 50 to 64 (3299 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		1513 votes (46%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		618 votes (19%)
Things are about right as they are now		171 votes (5%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		959 votes (29%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		38 votes (1%)

I'm a man aged 65+ (1553 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		428 votes (28%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		206 votes (13%)
Things are about right as they are now		104 votes (7%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		789 votes (51%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		26 votes (2%)

I’m a woman aged 65+ (1093 votes)

The huge cuts to benefits over the last few years are a disgrace		371 votes (34%)
The cuts to benefits have gone a little too far		202 votes (18%)
Things are about right as they are now		74 votes (7%)
The benefits system is still too generous: more cuts needed		424 votes (39%)
We should simply stop all benefits to everyone		22 votes (2%)

                   16,618 votes received.

We try to use technology to limit voting to one per person. Occasionally, this may erroneously block a few people's votes (eg, from shared offices). Apologies for that.