Plea to keep Universal Credit increase

The £ 20- a- week Universal Credit ( UC) uplift should be made permanent and extended to those on legacy benefits, a pair of SNP councillors have argued, writes Steph Brawn, Local Democracy Reporter.

Natalie Don and Kenny MacLaren have lodged a motion calling on the council to write to Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Boris Johnson and request the boost remains in place.

The uplift - which was implemented last March - was due to end at the start of next month, but it is understood Mr Sunak will extend it for a further six months when he announces his budget on Wednesday.

However, Councillors Don and MacLaren have insisted the UK Government should be making the extra cash for hard-hit families unending.

“Those in the lowest income bracket are suffering most and this additional payment of Universal Credit has been necessary,” said Councillor Don, who is also standing to become the MSP for Renfrewshire North and West in May.

“To withdraw this payment will only bring more harm to those that need help most at this time.

“The Tories are burying their heads in the sand with this and people are going to suffer for it. In Wednesday’s budget, they have the chance to make this uplift permanent.

“It’s also important the UK Government extend this £20 uplift to include other legacy benefits – people on these benefits have been suffering throughout the pandemic and deserve the same level of support.”

UC was designed to replace a number of legacy benefits such as child tax credit, income support and jobseeker’s allowance.

But when Mr Sunak introduced the £20 uplift last year, this was not awarded to legacy benefit claimants, who were instead encouraged to move onto UC.

The motion will be deliberated over on Thursday at a full council meeting, when elected members will also finalise the local authority’s budget and council tax levels for the upcoming financial year.

Councillor MacLaren added: “The additional payment was put in place to provide additional support to people in receipt of benefits, many for whom it was the first time claiming benefits. There is no reason why the UK Government couldn’t extend this payment to other benefits and make it permanent.”