100 groups urge Boris Johnson to abandon benefit cut

A coalition of 100 groups has urged the Prime Minister to abandon the looming cut to universal credit, claiming it will ‘fundamentally undermine’ his stated mission to address inequality.

The charities, unions and think-tanks argue that ending the £20-a-week uplift introduced to help claimants weather the storm of the coronavirus crisis will cause ‘immense, immediate and avoidable hardship’.

Ministers intend to start phasing out the £1,040-a-year increase in universal credit and working tax credit from the end of September, based on claimants’ payment dates. The government argues that now is the time to encourage people back into work, however, the coalition suggests that most of those who will be affected by the cut are already in work and warn it will damage the government’s mission to ‘level up’ the country.

The campaigners, which includes Save the Children, Citizens Advice and the National Education Union, wrote: “We are rapidly approaching a national crossroads which will reveal the true depth of the government’s commitment to improving the lives of families on the lowest incomes.

“Imposing what is effectively the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since World War II will pile unnecessary financial pressure on around 5.5 million families, both in and out of work. This cut risks causing immense, immediate, and avoidable hardship. A strong social security system is a crucial first step to building back better. We strongly urge you to make the right decision.”