The devolved Government's of the UK have made three demands of the UK Government.
In their joint letter to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, following a meeting with devolved ministers last week, there were calls for urgent action to tackle the brutal cost of living crisis. Minister for social justice Jane Hutt alongside Scottish minister for social security, Ben MacPherson and Northern Ireland’s communities minister Deirdre Hargey issued the following demands:
- An immediate emergency uplift of £25 to all means-tested benefits including legacy benefits;
- Abolition of the benefit cap and the two-child limit;
- A benefit take-up campaign.
What exactly are the demands?
Apply an emergency uplift of £25 to all means-tested benefits including the legacy benefits
In their letter the ministers said: "In April 2020 your Government introduced a £20 per week uplift in Universal Credit to help people during the pandemic. This provided a vital financial safety net for many individuals and families at a very difficult time.
"Despite repeated calls from the public, political and other representatives the uplift was removed in October 2021. Removal of this additional support has undoubtedly contributed to the hardship that people are now experiencing.
"Therefore, we strongly urge you to immediately reinstate the uplift to Universal Credit and, in recognition of the increasing costs individuals and families are experiencing, to increase it to £25 per week. This uplift should also be extended to all legacy benefits."
This demand comes as deep divisions in the Conservative Party have been made public over the issue of benefits. Senior back benchers like Michael Gove and Stephen Crabb have spoken publicly about the need to honor a pledge by the Johnson administration to increase benefits in line with inflation.
Abolish the benefit cap and the two-child limit
On the abolition of the benefit cap the minister's said: "The evidence of the impact of both polices is clear, they are pushing households with multiple children deeper into poverty. Removing the benefit cap and the two-child limit would offer meaningful, targeted support to families and help provide children the best start in life."
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) estimate that a couple with two children subject to the benefit cap are, on average, currently £150 a week below the poverty line. Removing the cap would put an average of an additional £65 per week into their pockets. Abolishing the two-child limit would also mean additional support for families of around £56 per week for each additional child after the first two. These measures would represent a critical financial lifeline in the current cost of living crisis.
Implement a comprehensive benefit take-up strategy
One of the issues with support for vulnerable people at the moment is lack of understanding in some parts of society about the benefits people are actually entitled to. To combat this the devolved governments are demanding the UK Government create an awareness campaign.
Their letter read: "The devolved Governments are doing what we can to put money into the pockets of the most vulnerable families and we are delivering excellent results with our benefit take-up projects. However, maximising the take-up of social security benefits must be a priority for all Governments. It is more critical than ever that people understand, and are helped to access, all the financial support that is available to them. We urge you to take similar action and urgently develop and implement a comprehensive benefit take-up strategy."
Minister for social justice at the Welsh Government Jane Hutt added: "“Ministers across Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland have united to call for immediate action from the UK Government to tackle this cost-of-living crisis. The impact this is having across the entire UK for families and the most vulnerable is clear for all to see.
“Decisions taken by successive UK Conservative Governments – from a decade of austerity to cruel cuts to benefits and broken promises on taxes – have created the conditions for this unprecedented crisis and are adding to the pressures on household budgets. The mini-budget has caused turmoil on the financial markets, sending the pound plummeting and making mortgages more expensive. Interest rates and inflation are set to rise further.
“That is why we need urgent action now. The devolved nations are calling for three immediate actions to take place; an uplift of £25 to all means-tested benefits, including legacy benefits, the abolition of the benefit cap and the two-child limit and an immediate benefit take-up campaign. These are all practical solutions, which would ease the burden on households and, more importantly, prevent tens of thousands more people – and children – sliding into poverty."
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