UK Charities Call for 'Essentials Guarantee' to Universal Credit
Two leading UK charities have called for the introduction of an 'Essentials Guarantee' to Universal Credit. This would ensure that payments never fall below the costs of food and utilities, benefiting over two thirds of people in poverty, including around 600,000 children.
Currently, the standard allowance of Universal Credit is £35 less than what a single person needs for essentials hoodie, and £66 less for a couple. A single person requires at least £120 per week, while a couple needs £200, to cover essentials such as food, clothes, and utilities. The charities find it extraordinary that Universal Credit is not based on these essential costs.
The 'Essentials Guarantee' would be the first time social security rates focus on what people need. It would lift around 1.8 million people out of poverty. This includes 600,000 children. The charities demand this change as 66% of people in the UK believe the basic rate of Universal Credit is too low, and 67% cannot afford vital essentials.
Paul Kissack, Chief Executive of JRF, has called for a new guarantee that the basic social safety net will always allow families to afford essentials. The new rule would be set regularly and fixed on an independent recommendation.
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