UNIVERSAL Credit cuts are leaving Brits concerned as to how they will pay their bills once the imminent change comes into place.
One daughter is worried for the well-being of her dad who has only 37p left after paying bills, according to the Mirror.
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Casi-Rose’s 65-year-old dad, Stephen, is on the Universal Credit system as he was laid off as a driver during the pandemic.
The eight year-old’s dad is often left with just 37p after paying his bills, her mum Katy claims.
The 30 year-old and her family are from near Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and worry for the their future as the uplift fast approaches.
She told the Mirror: “There are days he has to choose between putting milk in his tea and having some electricity.”
The family gathered with dozens of other Universal Credit claimants this week to protest against the upcoming cut.
Mum-of-three Kerry Wilks, 39, from Middlesbrough, also said she was “completely terrified” of the looming cut and said she “won’t be able to pay bills”.
She said the extra £80 a month has meant she’s been able to make ends meet, but is concerned about what will happen in October.
The £20 Universal Credit uplift, which was introduced to help hard-up families during the Covid pandemic, is due to be axed in October.
It’s been in place since April last year and has been a lifeline for thousands of claimants who have had their finances hit by the pandemic.
It is also the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since the Second World War.
Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey confirmed it will come in from the end of September.
She said: “Now the economy has reopened it is right that the Government should focus on supporting people back into work and supporting those already employed to progress in their careers.
“Our ambition is to support two million people to move into and progress in work through our comprehensive £33billion Plan for Jobs.”
The cut comes just as families are facing a fuel price hike, energy costs increasing and back-to-school expenditure too.
A group of 100 organisations led by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation wrote to the Prime Minister warning it will cause “immense, immediate and avoidable” hardship for many families over the daunting months.
Analysis from the foundation shows it risks plunging 500,000 people into poverty, including 200,000 children too.
Citizens Advice also warned that 2.3million people will be plunged into debt following the cut.
The average shortfall for people tipped into the red would be £51 a month.
Boris Johnson doubles down on vow to slash Universal Credit by £20 a week for millions of families next month
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