"I could feel depression coming over me": Londoners brace for end of Universal Credit uplift
The temporary ÂŁ20-a-week uplift ends today
More than a million Londoners on Universal Credit will see their weekly payments cut by ÂŁ20-per-week from today.
The Government introduced the temporary uplift to support people during the pandemic.
Now though, the number of people claiming the benefit in the capital has doubled since March 2019, according to the latest data.
Stewart lost his job when coronavirus hit, and has been on Universal Credit since.
He says even with the uplift, it's impossible to save and affording the basics is a stretch.
"It just gradually wears you down," he says. "At 7pm I go to four of the supermarkets, I do like a lap of honour around Southwark, around all the reduced sections."
"I've been having to really strive to keep myself fit mentally, I could feel the cloud of depression coming over me, and that's no good for applying for jobs."
Push back
Save the Children is one of a long line of charities, think tanks, unions and leaders from across the political spectrum hitting out against the removal of the ÂŁ20-a-week uplift.
The Government has been pressing ahead with the cut despite concerns that hundreds of thousands of people will be plunged into poverty.
Rebecca, a single working mother, said she was already "feeling the pinch" and was concerned she would further struggle to feed her eight-year-old daughter when the uplift was removed.
She said: "What ÂŁ20 means to families like mine is being able to afford proper healthy food - not just cheap processed food.
"It means having the heater on for two hours a day so we're not freezing.
"This cut is going to be devastating for families such as ours."
Going ahead
Boris Johnson has defended the cut to Universal Credit, arguing the taxpayer should not subsidise low wages.
The Prime Minister says there's a ÂŁ500 million hardship fund, an increase in childcare provision, an increase in the local housing allowance and warm homes discount to help people who are struggling.