Mum backs calls to keep £20 ‘lifeline’

Kerry Stephenson, of Ruddington, is calling for the universal credit £20 uplift to stay in place

A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE mum is backing calls for the Universal Credit uplift to remain in place.

Kerry Stephenson, 26, a mum of three, said the extra money was a great help to families.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, last year the Government introduced a £20 per week top-up to Universal Credit.

However, it is due to end in two months’ time, leaving many people more than £1,000 worse-off. The Government is facing increasing pressure to extend the extra support, but has not yet said whether it will do so.

Mum Kerry, of Ruddington, said: “I’m raising three children on my own and £20 can amount up to a lot.

“It could be the difference of one extra bill you can pay that month. I’ve been quite lucky because our churches and schools have pulled together to help.

“I had to use the food bank five or six times last year when I was really struggling.

“£20 means a lot to people. For me, it can go towards water, electric and things like nappies and baby wipes. If I lose that, I’ll have to deduct money somewhere else.”

Her plea comes as one of Nottingham’s largest housing providers, Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH), has called for the top-up to be retained to help its residents.

More than 400 of its tenants in the Nottingham area, including Kerry, are currently receiving Universal Credit.

Kerry said the Ruddington community had done a “tremendous amount” to help out residents throughout the pandemic.

She added: “With the kids at home full-time, my bills have gone up a lot and we’ve had to cut back.

I had to use the food bank five or six times last year when I was really struggling

Kerry Stephenson

CONCERN OVER LOSS OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT UPLIFT

“£20 may not sound like a lot to most, but if it’s taken away it would be a game-changer for me and many others.

“I’ve had to leave my college course, which I was hoping would help me to become a paramedic.

“People are having to make really difficult choices and I don’t understand why they want to take away this bit of extra support when people are relying on it.

“If I could speak to Boris Johnson I would ask how he would feel if he was in this situation or if this was his child.”

She added that she has “lost hope” in the Government as she says politicians cannot understand what it is like living in her situation.

She said: “It just seems to be a dog eat dog world. This situation requires people to come together and support others where they can.”

Another Metropolitan Thames

Valley Housing resident, Mary, from Nottingham, is relying on Universal Credit and is behind on bills after being furloughed from her job.

She said: “I don’t get the full furlough as I’m not on a contract at work. It’s been really hard not being able to work. My Universal Credit comes in at midnight, and it’s all gone by dinner time. I’m so worried about what will happen if I don’t pay my bills that I have cut back on everything – buying food is the last thing on my list.

“When I was told that the top-up would be ending in March, I couldn’t believe it.

“Everyone should be able to eat and not have to worry about basics like gas and electricity.”

On average, MTVH residents who are receiving Universal Credit, and who are in arrears with their rent and service charges, owe over £1,000 – 40 percent higher than the average arrears for other MTVH residents who aren’t on the benefit.

Ann Gibbons, executive director of customer services at MTVH, said: “We all hoped the pandemic would be over by now, but as lockdown continues and many businesses remain closed, it’s vital that the Government extends the £20-per-week Universal Credit top-up.

“It’s been a real lifeline for many of our residents and I am deeply concerned about what may happen if it is taken away in a few months’ time.”

A Government spokesman said: “We are committed to supporting the lowest-paid families through the pandemic, which is why we’re spending hundreds of billions to safeguard jobs, boosting welfare support by billions and have introduced the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme to help children and families stay warm and well fed during the coldest months.”