Members of the SNP and Scottish Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to reintroduce the weekly uplift that was given to Universal Credit claimants during the coronavirus pandemic to help ease the financial pressure caused by lockdowns. They also called for it to be increased to £25 per week and extended to all claimants on legacy benefits.
The proposed uplift was put directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in the House of Commons on Monday by Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain and SNP MP David Linden, with a couple of interventions from other SNP members showing support for the reintroduction of the weekly payment.
Ms Chamberlain told MPs: “In the long term, to end the need for additional cost of living payments we need economic growth, we need more people able to work and we need a healthier society. Poverty is the enemy of all those things.”
The North East Fife MP continued: “Poverty breeds worse health outcomes, it makes people cold and hungry and it drives away hope and drive. That is nobody’s fault except those who choose to look away and do nothing, and that is why we need the Government to review reinstating the uplift to Universal Credit and extending it to legacy benefits.
“It is why Carer’s Allowance needs reforming, and it is why we need all the cost of living payments at once, now, as a circuit breaker.”
Earlier, Ms Chamberlain had proposed that all cost of living payments, worth up to £1,350, were made to all eligible recipients before April 1. The proposal was rejected by the DWP.
The SNP’s David Lindem also argued that it was in the best interests of struggling households for the uplift to be reinstated and increased to £25.
He said: “Alongside colleagues from across the House, I have campaigned hard to retain the £20 uplift to Universal Credit.
“Indeed, we asked for it to be extended to legacy benefits. It was a great policy from the British Government, which was warmly welcomed, including by my party. It is no coincidence that we saw food bank usage reduce as the uplift was in place. Likewise, it was no coincidence that food bank usage increased as the uplift was taken away.”
He continued: “Since its removal, I have heard anecdotally that many people have struggled with the sudden loss of income - the largest drop in support in the modern welfare state. Any of us who interact with our constituents can outline how challenging that has been.”
He also spoke of the impact of the exclusion of disabled people claiming legacy benefits.
“It is widely acknowledged that disabled people are far more likely to live in poverty than non-disabled people and are particularly vulnerable to the rising cost of living.
“Despite that knowledge, legacy benefit claimants, many of whom are long-term sick or disabled, were unjustly denied that uplift during the pandemic.
“That was a monumental injustice, and it certainly adversely financially impacted many people throughout the pandemic, which was already causing heightened health anxiety.
“It is only right that an assessment be made of the failure to extend the uplift to legacy benefit claimants.”
The SNP’s Amy Callaghan also called for an assessment of the impact on those on legacy benefits who did not receive the £20 weekly uplift.
She said: “I also echo the call of my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow East [David Linden] that an assessment should be made of the fact that legacy benefits were not uplifted during the pandemic in the way that Universal Credit was.
“It would be revealing to see the impact that has had, particularly on disabled people.”
DWP Minister for Social Mobility, Youth and Progression, Mims Davies MP did not respond to the proposals in her closing remarks.
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