Millions of people on eight major DWP and HMRC benefits will be hit harder than ever from April as payments are outstripped by the rising cost of living.
The independent charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) is now warning that nine million families who receive benefits such as Universal Credit will be £500 a year worse off on average - and urging the government to take action.
The JRF says that failure to act would make the Government responsible for a second cut to benefits in less than six months, following the loss of the Universal Credit £20-a-week coronavirus top-up last October.
