To maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that: 

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 

The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits that have driven up child and working age poverty.

The cut will significantly damage local efforts to tackle poverty, undermining the work of Trafford council and partners being delivered through our local poverty strategy.

The £20 increase in Universal Credit has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. The financial pressures facing these households will still be there after September.

The cut will hit the local economy in Trafford, taking £1000s out of the pockets of residents. This is money that will no longer be spent in local shops and businesses.

There has been no such increase in Carers Allowance, with many unpaid carers facing extreme financial hardship. Rather than cutting Universal Credit, the government should be focussed on boosting disability and legacy benefits to ensure that the basic needs of households can be met.

The Council resolves to:  

Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on all legacy benefits including Carers Allowance. 

It was moved and seconded that:

“To maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that:

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 

The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits that have driven up child and working age poverty.

The cut will significantly damage local efforts to tackle poverty, undermining the work of Trafford council and partners being delivered through our local poverty strategy.

The £20 increase in Universal Credit has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. The financial pressures facing these households will still be there after September.

The cut will hit the local economy in Trafford, taking £1000s out of the pockets of residents. This is money that will no longer be spent in local shops and businesses.

There has been no such increase in Carers Allowance, with many unpaid carers facing extreme financial hardship. Rather than cutting Universal Credit, the government should be focussed on boosting disability and legacy benefits to ensure that the basic needs of households can be met.

The Council resolves to:  

Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on all legacy benefits including Carers Allowance.”

Following a debate on the matter, the Motion was put to the vote and declared carried.

RESOLVED: That to maintain the income of low and middle income households and single people, the Council notes that:

From the end of September the UK Government plans to cut benefits for millions of in-work and out- of-work claimants by cutting the basic rate of Universal Credit by £20 per week.

This will reverse the £20 a week increase to Universal Credit made in March 2020. This increase reflected the reality that the level of benefits in the UK does not sufficiently support low and middle income households. The increase was a very significant and welcome move to bolster low and middle-income living standards, and cutting it will be a huge loss to the many people who have already suffered hardship during the pandemic. 

The £20 increase was welcome given the backdrop of ten years’ worth of cuts to working age benefits that have driven up child and working age poverty.

The cut will significantly damage local efforts to tackle poverty, undermining the work of Trafford council and partners being delivered through our local poverty strategy.

The £20 increase in Universal Credit has had a positive effect on the lives of thousands of local claimants who are better able to pay for life’s essentials such as food, clothing and utilities. The financial pressures facing these households will still be there after September.

The cut will hit the local economy in Trafford, taking £1000s out of the pockets of residents. This is money that will no longer be spent in local shops and businesses.

There has been no such increase in Carers Allowance, with many unpaid carers facing extreme financial hardship. Rather than cutting Universal Credit, the government should be focussed on boosting disability and legacy benefits to ensure that the basic needs of households can be met.

The Council resolves to:  

Write to the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, and to the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, demanding that the £20 increase to Universal Credit is made permanent and extended to claimants on all legacy benefits including Carers Allowance.