A proposal aims to shake up the benefits system by scrapping Universal Credit and replacing it with guaranteed minimum income which would give all adults at least £163.50 a week.
The idea has been put forward by the Commission on Social Security group as a solution to fight poverty.
The change would see Universal Credit replaced with a 'Guaranteed Decent Income' of £163.50 for all adults.
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But unlike Universal Basic Income systems trialled in other European countries, such as Finland, which pays a weekly or monthly sum to all adults, the scheme put forward by the Commission would target those whose earnings are below £163.50, either through an entire sum or top-up payments, to ensure they have at least £163.50 going into their accounts every week, reports Mirror Online.
The Commission on Social Security is an organisation that looks at reforming the benefits system. It is funded by inequality campaign group, Trust for London.
The plans are in their early stages and have not yet been fully costed, but the commission's secretary, Michael Orton, claimed the plans would be a "post-war" style investment paid for itself through savings in other areas and through a healthier society.
Child benefit would be set at £50 a week, more than double the £21.15 for the eldest child now, and Personal Independence Payment for the disabled would range from £83.70 to £230.77.
Dr Orton, of the Institute for Employment Research at Warwick University, said: “The pandemic showed that when times were tough it was unpaid carers, supermarket workers and others on low incomes who kept our society going.
"It also showed that if we choose to, we can provide social security for everyone.
“However, the recent [£20 a week uplift] cut to Universal Credit means the Government is headed in the wrong direction. With a cost of living crisis looming in 2022, it doesn’t have to be like this.”
The Universal Credit rate will be £75 a week for over-25s from April. Top-ups are available for those with housing needs, children and disabilities.
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