Warning by Lib Dems of benefits cut

The Liberal Democrats say 70,000 people in the South West are at risk of having cuts made to their Universal Credit in two weeks’ time.

Data from the House of Commons library shows that 68,365 people in the South West are at risk of being forced to work more hours to maintain their current level of benefit.

The Chancellor’s new policy sets out that those working 12 hours a week or less, who claim Universal Credit, will need to take active steps to increase their earnings or face having their benefits slashed.

This will put around 70,000 people in the South West at risk of moving out of the ‘light touch’ labour regime and into the ‘intensive work search’ regime.

“These punitive sanctions on the poorest in our society are cruel,” said Bath’s MP Wera Hobhouse, pictured.

“It reveals once more the disdain that the Conservatives have for families struggling to make ends meet.”

“People on Universal Credit are not lazy, the vast majority want to work. Parents often do not have the financial resources to find childcare to make it physically possible for them to find full-time employment.

“It is not right that parents should be asked to abandon their dependents so they have enough money to provide for them.”

In Universal Credit, the ‘administration earnings threshold’ separates the so-called ‘intensive work search’ labour market regime from the ‘light touch’ labour market regime.

In two weeks time, on September 26, the threshold will be raised from £355 to £494 a month for a single claimant and from £567 to £782 a month for a couple. Universal Credit is already set to be cut in real terms by the Government. In its current plans it is abandoning a promise to raise benefits with inflation and instead will do so in line with earnings. That will mean a single claimant over 25 is already going to lose £180.84 a year and joint claimants over 25 £283.92 a year.

Half of in-work households on Universal Credit are caring for children. Ms Hobhouse has said these measures are giving families an impossible choice – either abandon their children so they can work the required hours or become poorer and less able to provide for their family.