Citizens Advice calls for range of benefit changes to ensure that all groups are supported during and after the coronavirus lockdown

New report recommends changes to benefit system to fill ongoing gaps and to ensure that 'no one is left behind as we recover from this crisis'

Citizens Advice has called for a range of benefit changes to ensure that all groups are protected during the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and in the longer-term.

In a new report, 'Lockdown Lifeline - Ensuring adequate support across the benefits system during the COVID-19 pandemic', Citizens Advice argues that, although the government has acted quickly to improve the processing of benefit claims and increase support in parts of the system, further urgent measures are needed to fill ongoing gaps and help shore up people’s finances in the coming weeks -

'Many people we help were already in very difficult financial situations before this crisis and new groups of people have faced a sudden income shock. Acting quickly will reduce the risk of large numbers of people falling into unsustainable debt, facing eviction, or losing access to essential services.'

Citizens Advice goes on to say that -

'... as we enter what is likely to be an extended period of economic turbulence, we also need to look at the role of the benefits system beyond the immediate impact that coronavirus has had on people’s jobs and incomes. As the Government prepares for a gradual transition from the current lockdown, these plans must also address existing problems with benefits to ensure the right support is in place for all those who need it. This will be crucial to ensuring no one is left behind as the country recovers from this crisis.'

As a result, Citizens Advice recommends that the government should -

Widen eligibility and access to the benefits system by -

• temporarily lifting the ‘no recourse to public funds’ restriction and suspending the habitual residence test; and
• clarifying how the universal credit capital limit applies to business assets so as to widen eligibility to self-employed people who are currently unable to trade.

Ensure adequate support across the benefits system by -

• suspending the benefit cap;
• temporarily turning universal credit advance payments into grants or, short of this, temporarily suspending repayment of advances; and
• applying the recent increase in levels of universal credit and tax credits to legacy benefits.

Consider longer-term measures to support groups disproportionately affected by coronavirus including -

• reviewing benefit rates for younger claimants;
• considering ways to increase support for larger families, such as through lifting the two-child limit on benefits; and
• reviewing support for disabled people going through the appeals process for disability benefits, as well as improving the accuracy of decision-making at initial assessments.

For more information, see Lockdown Lifeline - Ensuring adequate support across the benefits system during the COVID-19 pandemic from citizensadvice.org.uk