THE government will soon take away the temporary Universal Credit uplift.
The measure introduced during the pandemic to provide extra support to people and families during the lockdowns who rely on the benefits, many of whom are in work but not earning enough to get by.
Now it is being deemed no longer necessary and will be removed by the end of the month.
Campaigners have pushed for the uplift to become permanent as a standard rate for present and future claimants of these benefits, arguing that it could push people into poverty and homelessness.
We asked Adver readers how they would be affected by the loss of the £20-a-week bonus.
Gillian Obaidi: "It’s a lifeline for some people and it’s so sad that the government are taking it away. So many people are going to suffer and be thrown into extreme poverty.
"Especially, since the prices of gas, electricity , food are rising at a ridiculous rate.
"It’s sad when people who work full-time need Universal Credit to top up their wages. We are one of the richest countries in the world, so no one should be living without basic life essentials."
Kevin Butler: "I am.losing £80 a month so I shall just have to cut down on things and cope, to be fair, fairly simple choice."
Linzi Sutton: "Can't do anything about it so no point in moaning. I used online shopping a lot like everyone else, now things are better I'm not paying so much on food and shipping, delivery, as I can go into the shops or takeaways again. So shouldn't make too much of a difference."
Sam Strong: "We all need to pay more for Covid but you should never start with the poor. You don't see the government upping the tax on the rich or making these billion pound companies actually pay tax.
"What we do see is them plunging 800,000 people into poverty by cutting Universal Credit and, on top of that, upping everyone's National Insurance."
Madi Jenkins: "Luckily I’m unaffected but with the rise in gas and electric, I can see it affecting quite a few."
Heidi Bowden: "Life is going back to normal. But on the plus side, there are jobs out there for people."
Teresa Gower-Adams: "They are only taking off the £20 increase that they issued for the pandemic, it was always a temporary thing, not touching your actual money."
Sammy Cookson: "Yes but because of Covid, the cost of living has gone up so when they take this money away, people will be left short."
Paula Craig: "The people earning £100 per hour have convinced the people earning £20 per hour that the problem is the people earning £8 per hour."
Candy Royle: "The bit of extra money meant I could afford to buy my one-year-old food and drink that didn't make him poorly., as its so expensive. He has gluten, dairy and soya allergies."
Annalyse Sikora: "I wasn’t on Universal Credit before Covid so for me it wasn’t a temporary uplift. I’m a self employed single mum trying to rebuild my business and I’m shocked that anyone can survive on this money."
Tamsin Murray: "I get Universal Credit, but I do work as well. People tend to get confused and think if your on universal credit you don't work- but actually most do work, but they are just not fortunate enough to earn above a certain amount.
"We have taken a cut in my husband's wage due to epilepsy health issues and are lucky enough to have universal credit top it up.
"Whether it's up or down, I'm grateful. Hopefully it won't leave people too short to buy food and warm their houses."
Sally Clark: "The government are being very short-sighted. They upped UC to help people during lockdown, but now it's being reduced again they are not taking into account that the cost of living has sky-rocketed.
"People who only have UC as their income are going to be placed in a dreadful position, let alone those who work. In this day and age we shouldn't have people unable to buy food or pay for a home to live in. I'd like to see someone in government live on the income these people are expected to live on with the outgoings they have."
Tracey Sanders: "I think it will hit people very hard. Now we are being hit with gas prices flying up, so not only are we going to have hungry children, we will have cold children too."
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