Welfare Benefits, May 2020.
While we welcome that the government has made some generous changes to the welfare system as a result of COVID-19, it has to be acknowledged that this really only amounts to reversing 2 of the austerity driven cuts it has introduced since 2010.
What's changed?
Universal Credit has seen an increase in the basic amount, by around £20 a week - it could be argued bringing it back up to the level it would have otherwise been were it not for the benefits freeze.
LHA has been increased back up to the 30th percentile. This is the maximum payable on housing benefit and the UC housing element for those in the private rental sector. Again, this is an increase that simply brings LHA back up to the level it was before the benefits freeze.
Deductions from benefit, and the minimum income floor have been removed for this temporary period.
What's not changed?
Aside from the 2 increases listed above, every other austerity driven cut since 2010 remains in place. The 2 child limit; The benefit cap; Capital limits in UC; The impact of the benefits freeze remains in place for those on JSA and ESA; Reductions in the child element for UC.
Unprecedented need.
In the week of 27th April 2020 in Brighton & Hove 40 emergency food projects gave out food parcels to 3001 households, supporting 4831+ people (including at least 996 children) and served 3966 meals.
Prior to the crisis emergency food providers were giving out 420 parcels a week.
BUCFP supports the call by a coalition of charities - https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/05/01/coalition-call/ - to temporarily increase welfare benefits in line with the crisis in which we find ourselves.
"To help the nation weather the storm of this pandemic the coalition is urgently calling on the government to provide a Coronavirus Emergency Income Support Scheme that supports individuals and families who are already facing or at serious risk of financial hardship. It also calls on the government to work with charities in the anti-poverty sector to develop this scheme and ensure it can be put in place quickly, treats everyone with dignity, and leaves no-one behind.
The coalition proposes this temporary package to include measures such as:
Increasing benefits that go to families to help with the costs of raising children
Extending the suspension of benefit deductions to cover advance payments – these are often taken to cover the five-week wait for a first Universal Credit payment
Lifting the benefit cap and two-child policy to ensure this support scheme benefits everyone
Ensuring local authorities in England can provide effective crisis support to individuals and families."
