UK disability charities say NICs rise will cause ‘life-changing’ cuts

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group said Rachel Reeves’s decision to raise national insurance contributions had been ‘ill thought through’. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA

Charities have warned of “life-changing consequences” for a million vulnerable children and adults as a result of cuts to state-funded disability services driven by tax changes and wage rises announced in the budget.

The Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG), which represents 100 charities in England, said Rachel Reeves’s decision to raise employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) had been “ill thought through” and would put many local charity services at risk.