People on Universal Credit 'could skip meals' if £20 uplift is scrapped
Campaigners in York are calling for the uplift to be made permanent.
Campaigners in York are urging the Government not to end the £20 uplift to Universal Credit this week - and to make it permanent.
Research from the Trussell Trust shows that of people aged 16 to 34 in Britain claiming Universal Credit:
458,000 say they’re ‘very likely’ to need to skip meals if the cut is introduced in October (1 in 6)
431,000 say they’re ‘very likely’ to not be able to heat their homes this winter (1 in 6)
350,000 say they’re ‘very likely’ to need support from a food bank (1 in 8)
The organisation also say removing the uplift would be the "biggest overnight cut to social security since the Second World War" and "a huge blow for millions of families both in and out of work."
A debate and vote on the uplift is expected later today.
Lucy Bannister is the Policy Campaigns Manger for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, who are campaigning to keep the uplift: "I think what's really significant is the huge numbers of voices that we've heard that have joined forces on this.
"It's not just the usual suspects - it's organisations from across the health and charity sector, right wing thinktanks and many Conservative MPs, including all six of the previous Work and Pensions secretaries since 2010.
"They have warned against this cut and said that this investment in social security was a vital correction to the system after years of cuts and freezes.
"Many people recognise that this will not only have a devastating impact immediately, but a cut will be a step in the wrong direction to a social security system that is in need of strengthening. Where many higher income families have made savings during this pandemic, families on Universal Credit have struggled to make ends meet, have been going without food, have fallen into debt and are falling behind on rent payments; that's just not right in the country that we live in".
Adam Raffell is the Foodbank Manager at York Foodbank: "There are a number of people that we have become familiar with in the past who have not needed to use the foodbank whilst that uplift has been in place.
"Foodbank usage has been high anyway through sections of the pandemic, and the thought that his uplift could be removed is quite concerning.
"It's been a challenging time for a lot of people - there's been disruption to income for people across the city, along with people relying on Universal Credit for the first time.
"What's happened in the past year is that we've seen a number of people who've not needed to use a foodbank as a result of this uplift, and I just really hope that those listening in Westminster and elsewhere can recognise the impact they're going to have on potentially thousands of people's lives across the country.
"There are still people coming through our doors referred to us by professional agencies, and we're just doing the best we can to help refer them and find access to support to help them in the long term.
"Our objective as always is for there not to be a need for mass food distribution".
A Government spokesperson from the Department of Work and Pensions told us:
"As announced by the Chancellor at the Budget, the uplift to Universal Credit was always temporary. It was designed to help claimants through the economic shock and financial disruption of the toughest stages of the pandemic, and it has done so.
"Universal Credit will continue to provide vital support for those both in and out of work and it’s right that the Government should focus on our Plan for Jobs, supporting people back into work and supporting those already employed to progress and earn more."
Additional information:
· We’re committed to putting more money in the pockets of hard-working families, which is why this year we provided a pay rise to 2 million of the UK’s lowest-paid through a higher minimum wage, while we’ll also help people earn more by levelling up opportunity.
· Throughout this crisis, the Government has spent £400bn protecting people’s jobs, livelihoods and supporting businesses and public services. We extended economic support as we continue on the road to recovery, right through to the end of September in order to support those who most need it. That includes unprecedented welfare support.
· More than £9bn will have been spent on the Universal Credit uplift by the time it ends in September. It is right that economic support is wound down as we come out of this crisis and we focus on helping people back into work.
· Children in households where every adult is working are around five times less likely to be in poverty than households where nobody works. That is why our focus now is on our multi-billion pound Plan for Jobs, which will support people in the long-term by helping them learn new skills and increase their hours or find new work.
· We also have a comprehensive childcare offer in place for working parents, as well as further help in place for families with the cost of living - including by maintaining nearly £1 billion of additional housing support through Local Housing Allowance rates.