Stormont ministers call for reversal of Universal Credit cut
The £20 uplift is due to come to an end this week
The leaders of the Stormont Executive, together with the other devolved nations have called on the Westminster Government to reverse their decision to withdraw the £20-per-week uplift to Universal Credit.
In a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the leaders highlighted the damaging impact such a move would have on individuals and families
The temporary uplift in UC, announced last year at the start of the pandemic, began winding down towards the end of September and will finally come to an end this week.
The move has been widely condemned by charities and opposition parties.
In a joint letter to Boris Johnson, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, and the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, Paul Givan and Michelle O'Neill, said there was still time for a change of heart.
First Minister Paul Givan has warned the cup would negatively impact people’s wellbeing.
He said: “As leaders of the devolved administrations, we are calling on the UK Government to rethink their plan to withdraw this crucial uplift to Universal Credit payments.
“With furlough ended, food and energy costs on the rise and the impacts of the pandemic still being felt across society, household budgets are already under real pressure.
“The removal of this modest uplift from 134,000 people across Northern Ireland will negatively impact on their wellbeing, and that of their families. We cannot ignore the harm it would cause, including to tens of thousands of children.
“We have written to the Prime Minister to ask him to think about the consequences of this move and appeal to the Government to reconsider.”
While the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, has said the cut “risks plunging countless families deeper into poverty and hardship”.
She said: “While £20 per week may seem like a paltry sum to the British Government, to many families it makes all the difference in their children going hungry and being kept warm.
“It is unthinkable that this crucial lifeline would be withdrawn from households with the lowest incomes when they are already facing into a difficult winter.
“At a time when people most need support, this planned cut risks plunging countless families deeper into poverty and hardship. It is morally wrong, it’s cruel and it’s simply not good enough.
“But it’s not too late; and I urge Boris Johnson and his Government to do the right thing and reverse their decision urgently.”
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