557,000 families in Meridian region to be hit by Universal Credit cut
Video report by ITV News reporter Nick Smith
Anti-poverty charities say thousands of families across the South face extra hardship with the scrapping of the weekly £20 top-up on Universal Credit.The money is being stopped from the end of next month. It was introduced by the Government at the start of the first lockdown. It was a temporary measure to help those hardest hit during the pandemic. However, the charities say its sudden removal will mean the biggest single cut to social security in more than 70 years.
Natasha Bell, Universal Credit Claimant
Natasha Bell is a single mum, from Brighton, on Universal Credit with two teenage kids.
She's supported by Christians Against Poverty through her local church, but she may have to soon rely on them more than ever. In a few weeks time, she told ITV News her income will be reduced by more than £80 a month.
She said: "It seems like it was like a goodwill gesture. But whose you know, the pandemic is still ongoing. So how could you just stop it now? £80 a month is a you know, a month's food shop. Or it's like a day out for my children. It's gonna make a big difference."
How the change will impact families in the Meridian region
Analysis of the latest government data seen exclusively by ITV News suggests that 32% of families with children in the Meridian region will be affected by the reduction in Universal credit, that's more than 557,000 families in total.
Across the Meridian region that means more than £579 million a year, that has been helping the poorest families, is being taken away.
Across the whole of Great Britain the figure is nearly £6 billion a year.
Similar research by the Joseph Roundtree Foundation found more than a third of Universal credit claimants are in employment, and rely on the top up for essential spending.
Maggie Armson works at a local school. But during the holidays, she's not picking up any wages and worries she won't make ends meet once the extra £20 a week disappears.
She said: "I was hoping now that they're taking it away from me, how am I going to work the money out if they haven't got enough money or won't have gas or electric or food"."
"It's really hard now because my daughter is just finished school. And she's going to college. And that's where I'm going to find really hard because I have to buy the books and stationery".
But one public policy think tank argues that the blanket £20 increase was flawed and a more targeted approach should be introduced going forward.
James Heywood, Centre for Policy Studies
James Heywood, from the Centre for Policy Studies, says: "It worked as a temporary measure that could be implemented quickly."
"But if you were to keep that permanently, what you'd be doing is essentially giving 20 pounds to someone who say a young single claimant who's not many kids and still living with their mum or dad for example".
"But you're also giving 20 pounds to a couple who've got several kids and rent to pay and and so, so it's actually quite a poorly targeted way of distributing a large amount of money."
A spokesperson for Department for Work and Pensions told ITV News: "Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic".
"The temporary uplift is part of a £400 billion support package which continues beyond the ending of restrictions."
But for many living on the breadline, for now at least, all they can see is an upcoming £20 hole in their weekly finances.