The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, National Housing Federation, Community Housing Cymru and Northern Ireland Federation of Housing Associations are calling on the UK Government to urgently rethink its planned cut to the £20 Universal Credit uplift.
With research showing that the removal of the £20 uplift would have a severe and detrimental impact on many families who have come to rely on the additional support to pay for vital services, the four federations have written to Minister for Welfare Delivery in the Department of Work and Pensions Will Quince to outline the impact that removing the uplift would have.
The four federations have two key asks:
- the £20 uplift to be retained as a permanent feature of Universal Credit or extended until at least March 2022 so that the sufficiency of the standard allowance can be reviewed.
- the Department of Work and Pensions to urgently prioritise communication with claimants regarding any planned changes to Universal Credit.
Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of SFHA, said: “The £20-a-week uplift in Universal Credit payments has helped to provide vital extra support to people worst affected by the pandemic, and, with the effects of Covid likely to be felt for some time to come, it’s critical that they’re not faced with a loss of income.
“Our members have seen first-hand the financial impact of Covid on their tenants, with an increase in demand for support services such as welfare advice and food security. While housing associations and co-operatives will continue to do everything they can, the uplift provides much-needed extra support for their tenants and communities.
“Research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has shown that if the UK Government goes ahead with the cut, millions of families will be unable to need their needs.
"The UK Government must urgently rethink its planned cut and keep this vital lifeline.”
