- Universal Claimants in Boston, Lincolnshire are worried about the £20 a week cut.
Boris Johnson has refused to backdown with cutting Universal Credit by £20 a week. Although MPs voted 253-O in favour of putting a stop to the cut, the Prime Minister is still expected to go ahead and punish the working class.
800,000 people in the UK face being pushed into poverty with thousands of those people living in Boston.
According to Labour County councillors, the Universal Credit cut will cost the Lincolnshire economy more than £67 million.
Those on Universal Credit, will see the benefits cut from October 6, which means the last time they receive the additional £20 a week will be at the end of September.
According to Government figures, 64,776 people in Lincolnshire are currently claiming Universal Credit.
Here is a breakdown of the number of Universal Claimants:
Lincoln – 11,206
North Kesteven – 6,753
East Lindsey – 13,234
Boston – 8,067
South Holland – 7,756
South Kesteven – 10,732
West Lindsey – 7,028
Gainsborough Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh who earns around £81,932 a year as an MP, has backed the Universal Credit cut.
He said that the increase was a temporary measure, even though he admitted that there could be people facing hardship with the cut.
Mr Leigh said: “It costs £6 billion, we want to end furlough, end people sitting at home, get people back into work and provide need where it’s really needed; not just have universal benefit splashed out all over the country irrespective of need.”
The Universal Credit cut could force more people in Boston, Lincolnshire into hardship and poverty. With rising energy, fuel, and food bills, and the increase in National Insurance contributions, now is not the right time to cut Universal Credit.
Some charities have warned it could result in some people choosing between heating their homes or putting food on the table. While other charities have said, it could result in more people going into debt and some people turning to pay day loans.
