Translate the text from English to Welsh.



 
In 2011, the Ministerial Task and Finish Group on Welfare Reform, which I now chair, commissioned a three\-stage programme of research to assess the impact of the UK Government’s welfare reforms in Wales.


Today, the first part of the Stage 3 research has been published. The report aims to provide an evidence base for the potential impacts of the welfare reforms on those with protected characteristics in Wales. However, the evidence base is limited for some of the aggregate impacts and for the impact on certain protected characteristics. Therefore, where possible, this report has looked at the impacts of each of the main reforms in isolation and focuses on four protected characteristics (gender, disabled people, age, and race and ethnicity). It analyses the numbers affected, income losses, impacts on poverty, work incentives (i.e. the proportion of earnings lost in tax and withdrawn benefits) and employment, and wider considerations such as online access.     

   

The benefit system distinguishes between disabled and non\-disabled people and younger and older people given that these characteristics generally require different support needs. The same is not true for gender, race and ethnicity; therefore, the benefit rules do not differentiate between these characteristics. However, this analysis shows that some groups may be more affected by the welfare reforms because other characteristics, such as income, skill levels, qualifications, work status and family structure, are more prevalent in some groups than in others.


With a few exceptions, the benefit and tax credit changes tend to adversely affect more females than males in terms of the impact on incomes. Overall, non\-working lone parent households, most of whom are female, are amongst those who incur the largest income losses. However, lone parents are expected to benefit from a significantly increased incentive to work more hours. By contrast, many women in couples (particularly those with children), are more likely to be second earners than men, and so will see a reduced incentive to work. This is because of the focus of Universal Credit (UC) on helping to get the first earner into work. A greater proportion of women will also be affected by the significantly tougher work\-search requirements under UC. Furthermore, the single UC household payment is more likely to be paid to the head of the benefits unit, which is more likely to be male. This may disadvantage some women.


Major changes have already been made to disability and sickness benefits with more to come later this year. The impacts of such reforms are expected to be more pronounced in Wales than in the UK as a whole given the relatively high proportion of people in Wales receiving these benefits. The Department for Work and Pensions has put in place some protection for disabled groups via exemptions and increased Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs); however, there will be significant impacts on disabled people and also their carers. Although sample sizes on which conclusions are based are small, research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) suggests that, on average, households with someone receiving a disability benefit will have an improved incentive to be in work. In addition, those who are already in work and in receipt of a disability benefit will see a substantial improvement in the incentive to increase their earnings. However, incentives to increase their earnings will deteriorate for those in work with a partner receiving a disability benefit.


Overall, pensioners are largely unaffected as most reforms apply to working\-age benefits. Given that some of the reforms specifically relate to certain age groups, they will inevitably have a disproportionate impact on these groups. Although older working\-age people are more likely to see an income loss under UC than younger people (who will tend to see an income gain), overall the reforms in aggregate will mean that they see a greater strengthening of the incentive to be in paid work. On average, older working\-age people who are already in work will also see an improvement in the incentive to increase earnings, although this improvement is greater for those aged 25–54\. However, incentives for those who are under 25 and already in work to increase their earnings will deteriorate.  


Some of the welfare reforms, such as the household benefit cap, are likely to have a disproportionate impact on Black and minority ethnic claimants because of the characteristics of some of these households (for example, larger family size among certain ethnic minority groups). Although sample sizes are small, IFS research suggests that, on average, the reforms will strengthen the incentive for white people to be in work and weaken the incentive for non\-white people to be in work. This is because non\-white people have a greater likelihood of having dependent children, and therefore tend to fall into groups that see a weakening of the incentive to be in work. For those in work, on average, both white and non\-white groups are expected to see an improvement in the incentive to increase their earnings. However, the improvement for non\-white groups will likely be smaller, again because of other characteristics such as earnings. 


Some of the above groups, such as disabled and older people, may also have difficulty making online claims for UC. The changes that will be implemented are numerous and complex and in some instances offset each other in terms of likely impacts on income and employment incentives. However, it is clear that there are instances where the reforms are likely to lead to a disproportionate impact on some groups with protected characteristics. Given these findings, the Welsh Government will aim to target its policies and support to help mitigate such adverse impacts where possible.


Welfare is not devolved, and given the scale of the UK Government’s welfare reforms, the Welsh Government is not resourced to compensate for all of the impacts on people in Wales. However, we are committed to do all in our power to mitigate some of the worst impacts of the reforms.


On 21 May, the then Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty made a statement in the Siambr, setting out the Welsh Government’s reaction to the UK Government’s changes in the provision of welfare. He outlined the Welsh Government’s strategy which focuses on tackling poverty, and on action to build resilient communities, alongside local government, the third sector and Communities First clusters.


It is no coincidence that some of those with protected characteristics are also more likely to find themselves experiencing poverty. On 3 July I jointly launched Building Resilient Communties: Taking Forward the Tackling Poverty Action Plan. The Plan focuses on three aims, and includes targets and milestones to support the delivery of these aims:


* Preventing poverty will contribute to reducing inequality at the earliest possible stage and breaking the link between socio\-economic disadvantage, educational under\-achievement and the impaired life chances that flow from these. Therefore, the Welsh Government aims to improve the overall attainment levels of Flying Start children and students eligible for free school meals.
* Helping people into work \- The best route out of poverty is through employment, therefore the Welsh Government will continue to help people to improve their skills and qualifications, and address other barriers to employment. These include the accessibility of transport and buildings, and poverty of aspiration. Therefore, the Welsh Government's aims include reducing the number of workless households, especially those with children, and the number of young people who are not in employment, education or training.
* Mitigating the impact of poverty \- The Welsh Government aims to ensure fair and equal access to high\-quality health, housing, financial and digital services regardless of where people live or what their incomes are. This will also help to mitigate in\-work poverty.


Recognising employment as a route out of poverty, the Plan also includes an ambitious target to provide an additional 5,000 training and employment places for people in workless households. It will work with the Welsh Government's Strategic Equality Plan to improve outcomes for people in Wales.


 


 







Translation:


 
Yn 2011, gwnaeth y Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Gweinidogol ar Ddiwygio Lles, a gaiff ei gadeirio gen i bellach,  gomisiynu rhaglen ymchwil tri cham i asesu effaith diwygiadau lles Llywodraeth y DU yng Nghymru.  

 Heddiw, cyhoeddwyd rhan gyntaf ymchwil Cam 3\. Nod yr adroddiad yw darparu sail dystiolaeth ar gyfer effeithiau posibl y diwygiadau lles ar y rheini â nodweddion gwarchodedig yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, mae'r sail dystiolaeth yn gyfyngedig ar gyfer rhai o'r effeithiau cronnol a'r effaith ar rai nodweddion gwarchodedig. Felly, lle bo modd, mae'r adroddiad hwn wedi ystyried effeithiau pob un o'r prif ddiwygiadau yn unigol ac mae'n canolbwyntio ar bedair nodwedd warchodedig (rhyw, pobl anabl, oedran a hil ac ethnigrwydd). Mae'n dadansoddi'r niferoedd yr effeithir arnynt, colledion incwm, effeithiau ar dlodi, cymhellion i weithio (h.y. cyfran yr enillion a gollir mewn treth a budd\-daliadau a dynnir yn ôl) a chyflogaeth, ac ystyriaethau ehangach fel mynediad ar\-lein.      
   
Mae'r system budd\-daliadau yn gwahaniaethu rhwng pobl anabl a phobl nad ydynt yn anabl a phobl iau a phobl hŷn o ystyried bod y nodweddion hyn yn gofyn am anghenion cymorth gwahanol yn gyffredinol. Nid yw hyn yn wir am ryw, hil ac ethnigrwydd; felly, nid yw'r rheolau o ran budd\-daliadau yn gwahaniaethu rhwng y nodweddion hyn. Fodd bynnag, mae'r dadansoddiad hwn yn dangos y gall y diwygiadau lles effeithio ar rai grwpiau yn fwy am fod nodweddion eraill fel incwm, lefelau sgiliau, cymwysterau, statws gwaith a strwythur y teulu, yn fwy cyffredin mewn rhai grwpiau nag eraill. 

 Gydag ambell eithriad, mae'r newidiadau i fudd\-daliadau a chredydau treth yn dueddol o gael effaith andwyol ar fwy o fenywod na dynion o ran yr effaith ar incymau. Ar y cyfan, mae cartrefi rhieni unigol nad ydynt yn gweithio, y mae'r rhan fwyaf ohonynt yn fenywod, ymhlith y rhai a fydd yn gweld y colledion mwyaf o ran incwm. Fodd bynnag, disgwylir i rieni unigol gael budd o gymhelliant arwyddocaol i weithio mwy o oriau. I'r gwrthwyneb, mae llawer o fenywod mewn cyplau (yn enwedig y rheini â phlant), yn fwy tebygol o fod yn ail enillwyr na dynion, ac felly bydd ganddynt lai o gymhelliant i weithio. Y rheswm dros hyn yw bod Credyd Cynhwysol (CC) yn canolbwyntio ar gael yr enillydd cyntaf i mewn i waith. Bydd y gofynion llawer anoddach o ran chwilio am waith o dan CC hefyd yn effeithio ar fwy o fenywod. At hynny, mae'r taliad CC unigol i gartrefi yn fwy tebygol o gael ei wneud i bennaeth yr uned budd\-daliadau, sy'n fwy tebygol o fod yn ddyn. Gall hyn roi rhai menywod dan anfantais.

 Mae newidiadau mawr wedi cael eu gwneud i fudd\-daliadau anabledd a salwch eisoes ac mae mwy i ddod eleni. Disgwylir i effeithiau diwygiadau o'r fath fod yn fwy amlwg yng Nghymru nag yn y DU gyfan o ystyried y gyfran gymharol uchel o bobl yng Nghymru sy'n cael y budd\-daliadau hyn. Mae'r Adran Gwaith a Phensiynau wedi rhoi rhai mesurau ar waith i warchod grwpiau anabl drwy eithriadau a Thaliadau Tai Dewisol (TTD) uwch; fodd bynnag, bydd effeithiau sylweddol ar bobl anabl a hefyd eu gofalwyr. Er bod y samplau y mae casgliadau'n seiliedig arnynt yn fach, mae ymchwil gan y Sefydliad Astudiaethau Cyllid (SAC) yn awgrymu bod gan gartrefi, ar gyfartaledd, rywun sy'n cael budd\-dal anabledd a fydd yn gweld ei gymhelliant i weithio yn gwella. Yn ogystal, bydd y rheini sydd eisoes yn gweithio ac yn cael budd\-dal anabledd yn gweld cryn welliant yn y cymhelliant i gynyddu eu henillion. Fodd bynnag, bydd cymhellion i gynyddu eu henillion yn dirywio i'r rheini mewn gwaith sydd â phartner sy'n cael budd\-dal anabledd.

 Ar y cyfan, nid effeithir ar bensiynwyr gan fod y rhan fwyaf o ddiwygiadau yn gymwys i fudd\-daliadau oedran gweithio. O ystyried bod rhai o'r diwygiadau yn ymwneud yn benodol â grwpiau oedran penodol, byddant, yn anochel, yn cael effaith anghymesur ar y grwpiau hyn. Er bod pobl hŷn o oedran gweithio yn fwy tebygol o golli incwm o dan CC na phobl iau (a fydd yn dueddol o weld cynnydd mewn incwm), ar y cyfan bydd y diwygiadau, gyda'i gilydd, yn golygu eu bod yn gweld y cymhelliant i fod mewn gwaith â thâl yn cael ei atgyfnerthu. Ar gyfartaledd, bydd pobl hŷn o oedran gweithio sydd eisoes yn gweithio hefyd yn profi mwy o gymhelliant i gynyddu eu henillion, er bod y gwelliant hwn yn fwy i'r rheini rhwng 25 a 54 oed. Fodd bynnag, bydd y cymhellion i'r rheini sydd o dan 25 oed ac sydd eisoes yn gweithio gynyddu eu henillion yn dirywio.   

 Mae rhai o'r diwygiadau lles, fel y cap ar fudd\-dal tai, yn debygol o gael effaith anghymesur ar rai hawlwyr o grwpiau pobl dduon a lleiafrifoedd ethnig oherwydd nodweddion rhai o'r cartrefi hyn (er enghraifft teuluoedd mwy o faint ymhlith rhai grwpiau lleiafrifoedd ethnig). Er bod y samplau yn fach, mae ymchwil SAC yn awgrymu, ar gyfartaledd, y bydd y diwygiadau yn atgyfnerthu'r cymhelliant i bobl wyn weithio ac yn gwanhau'r cymhelliant i bobl nad ydynt yn wyn weithio. Y rheswm dros hyn yw bod pobl nad ydynt yn wyn yn fwy tebygol o fod â phlant dibynnol, ac felly maent yn dueddol o berthyn i grwpiau sy'n gweld eu cymhelliant i weithio yn gwanhau. I'r rheini sy'n gweithio, ar gyfartaledd, disgwylir i grwpiau gwyn a grwpiau nad ydynt yn wyn weld y cymhelliant i gynyddu eu henillion yn gwella. Fodd bynnag, mae'r gwelliant i grwpiau nad ydynt yn wyn yn debygol o fod yn llai, unwaith eto oherwydd nodweddion eraill fel enillion.  

 Efallai y bydd rhai o'r grwpiau uchod, fel pobl anabl a phobl hŷn, hefyd yn ei chael hi'n anodd hawlio CC ar\-lein. Mae'r newidiadau a gaiff eu gwneud yn feichus ac yn gymhleth ac mewn rhai achosion maent yn gwrthbwyso ei gilydd o ran yr effeithiau tebygol ar incwm a chymhellion i weithio. Fodd bynnag, mae'n amlwg bod achosion lle mae'r diwygiadau yn debygol o arwain at effaith anghymesur ar rai grwpiau â nodweddion gwarchodedig. O ystyried y canfyddiadau hyn, bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn anelu at dargedu ei pholisïau a chymorth i helpu i liniaru effeithiau andwyol o'r fath lle bo modd.

 Nid yw lles yn fater datganoledig, ac o ystyried graddau diwygiadau lles Llywodraeth y DU, nid oes gan Lywodraeth Cymru yr adnoddau i wneud iawn am yr holl effeithiau ar bobl yng Nghymru. Fodd bynnag, rydym yn ymrwymedig i wneud ein gorau glas i liniaru rhai o effeithiau gwaethaf y diwygiadau. 

 Ar 21 Mai, gwnaeth y Gweinidog Cymunedau a Threchu Tlodi ar y pryd ddatganiad yn y Siambr, gan nodi ymateb Llywodraeth Cymru i newidiadau Llywodraeth y DU o ran darparu lles. Amlinellodd strategaeth Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n canolbwyntio ar drechu tlodi ac ar gymryd camau i feithrin cymunedau gwydn, ochr yn ochr â chlystyrau llywodraeth leol, y trydydd sector a Chymunedau yn Gyntaf. 

 Nid yw'n gyd\-ddigwyddiad bod y rheini â nodweddion gwarchodedig hefyd yn fwy tebygol o brofi tlodi. Ar 3 Gorffennaf, cyd\-lansiais Creu Cymunedau Cryf: Symud Ymlaen â’r Cynllun Gweithredu ar gyfer Trechu Tlodi. Mae'r Cynllun yn canolbwyntio ar dri nod, ac mae'n cynnwys targedau a cherrig milltir i gefnogi'r gwaith o gyflawni'r nodau hyn:

 * Bydd atal tlodi yn cyfrannu at leihau anghydraddoldeb cyn gynted â phosibl a thorri'r cysylltiad rhwng anfantais economaidd\-gymdeithasol, tangyflawni addysgol a'r cyfleoedd gwaeth mewn bywyd sy'n deillio o hyn. Felly, mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn anelu at wella lefelau cyrhaeddiad cyffredinol plant Dechrau'n Deg a myfyrwyr sy'n gymwys i gael prydau ysgol am ddim.
* Helpu pobl i gael gwaith \- Y ffordd orau allan o dlodi yw drwy gyflogaeth, felly bydd Llywodraeth Cymru yn parhau i helpu pobl i wella eu sgiliau a'u cymwysterau, a mynd i'r afael â rhwystrau eraill i gael gwaith. Ymhlith y rhain mae hygyrchedd trafnidiaeth ac adeiladau, a thlodi dyhead. Felly, mae nodau Llywodraeth Cymru yn cynnwys lleihau nifer y cartrefi di\-waith, yn enwedig y rhai â phlant, a nifer y bobl ifanc nad ydynt mewn cyflogaeth, addysg na hyfforddiant.
* Lliniaru effaith tlodi \- Mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn anelu at sicrhau mynediad teg a chyfartal i wasanaethau iechyd, tai, ariannol a digidol o ansawdd uchel waeth ble mae pobl yn byw neu beth yw eu hincymau. Bydd hyn hefyd yn helpu i liniaru tlodi mewn gwaith.

 Gan gydnabod bod cyflogaeth yn ffordd allan o dlodi, mae'r Cynllun hefyd yn cynnwys targed uchelgeisiol i ddarparu 5,000 ychwanegol o leoedd hyfforddiant a gwaith i bobl mewn cartrefi di\-waith. Bydd yn gweithio gyda Chynllun Cydraddoldeb Strategol Llywodraeth Cymru i wella canlyniadau i bobl yng Nghymru.