Universal Credit has been designed to help with the cost of living for families who are out of work, or on a low income. Due to the effects of the COVID-19 crisis, and rising unemployment, the government took the decision to increase the Universal Credit sum by £20 a week. The decision was then enacted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), responsible for overseeing and administering the benefit.
However, this rise was only originally meant to be temporary, coming to an end in April 2021.
Although the government has said it will review the uplift in the New Year, no commitments have been made to keeping it, and now it has been warned scrapping such a policy would be a “terrible mistake”.
A coalition of close to 60 charities, alongside senior bishops drawn together by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), have urged the government to take action.
Charities who have put their names to the letter include Oxfam, The Salvation Army and Action for Children.
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A number of committees, parties and faith leaders, alongside former Conservative Work and Pensions Secretaries have all expressed their desire for the uplift to be continued.
Analysis undertaken by the JRF has suggested 6.2 million families will be affected by the benefit cut come April.
This cut will be worth £1,040 and will happen overnight, creating a palpable impact for households.
Indeed, the analysis also stated 500,000 people – including 200,000 children – are at risk of being “swept into poverty”.
The report continued: “At a time when many livelihoods look uncertain and the number of people claiming Universal Credit has increased by 90 percent since March, it would be a terrible mistake to undo the progress that has been made in strengthening our social security system.
“The removal of this support would not only be immoral, but it will also damage the UK’s recovery.”
Returning to pre-pandemic levels of support, the organisation has stated, would be an “inadequate” measure to protect families from facing tough circumstances.
With the fight against the pandemic and the recovery period extending into 2021, taking action now may make a considerable difference, it has been stated.
The JRF has also expressed concern that a failure to lay out a new policy on the £20 uplift, could also mean those on legacy benefits are left in the cold.
It has therefore urged the government to take similar actions and extend the same level of support to those on older benefits.
The report concluded: “By doing this, they can keep doing the right thing, keep families afloat, and strengthen our social security system so it provides the public service we can all turn to when we wit hard times.
“We stand ready to work with the government to continue to prevent a rising tide of poverty in our society and ensure we achieve a recovery that is felt by everyone.”
Express.co.uk has contacted the DWP for comment on the matter.
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