Benefit move ‘catastrophic’

RECORD numbers of people are seeking support for their mental and financial wellbeing, figures show, ahead of the Universal Credit cut coming into force.

Removing the £20-a-week uplift will be a “catastrophic cut” that could cause people’s mental health problems to spiral, the charity Mental Health UK warned.

Visits to its online mental health and money advice service nearly doubled from 30,760 in August 2020 to 60,214 last month.

A Government spokesperson said: “We’ve always been clear that the uplift to Universal Credit was temporary. It was designed to help claimants through the toughest stages of the pandemic, and it has done so.”