More than a million universal credit claimants ‘very likely’ to need to use a food bank if the £20 ‘uplift’ is removed

New Trussell Trust research reveals the shocking consequences of what lies ahead if lifeline is cut in April 2021

More than a million universal credit claimants will be 'very likely' to need to use a food bank if the £20 'uplift' is removed, according to new research from the Trussell Trust.

In Dignity or Destitution?, published today, the Trussell Trust highlights that the £20 uplift to universal credit - which was introduced as a temporary measure at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and is due to expire at the end of March 2021 - has prevented tens of thousands of people from needing to use a food bank.

Presenting findings from a survey of 1,000 universal credit claimants, the Trussell Trust warns that if the uplift is not maintained -

• 41 per cent (representing more than 2.4 million people across the UK) said they feared that they will be very likely to have to cut back on food;
• 13 per cent of parents said they will be very likely to have to cut back on food for their children; and
• 20 per cent (representing 1.2 million people) thought they will be very likely to have to turn to a food bank for help.

Highlighting that its figures are 'just the tip of the iceberg', as many people will have been helped by other community groups, and that only by keeping the uplift will it be possible to work towards creating a hunger-free future, the Trussell Trust calls on the government to take urgent action to -

• lock-in the uplift over the long-term to give people the security they need and to protect the economic recovery; and
• extend the uplift to people on legacy benefits - who are more likely to have disabilities - who have missed out since the start of the pandemic.

Chief Executive at the Trussell Trust Emma Revie said today -

'The £20 increase to universal credit introduced at the start of the pandemic has been vital in protecting tens of thousands of people from being swept into serious financial hardship. This survey reveals the shocking consequences of what lies ahead if this lifeline is cut in April. 

This isn’t right. No one should have to suffer the indignity of relying on emergency food.  It’s clear that action is needed to ensure our benefits system provides people with enough money to cover the essentials. That’s why we’re insisting the government turns this situation around. Keeping the £20 universal credit uplift, and extending it to legacy benefits, will provide an anchor from poverty for people who need it most.'

NB - in an evidence session before the Work and Pensions Committee yesterday, the Secretary of State Dr Thérèse Coffey was pressed for a date when she will publish research the DWP has commissioned into government policies contributing to food bank demand that was due out in October 2019. Responding that she does not have a 'specific answer', she advised that if the report is 'contributing to policy formation' it will be 'under review'.

For more information, see Our new report calls for the £20 universal credit uplift to be extended from trusselltrust.org