Government Minister responds to BASW CEO letter on Universal Credit uplift

Last month, BASW Chief Executive Dr Ruth Allen wrote to the Government, adding our voice to the call to retain the £20 weekly Universal Credit uplift.  

A Minister within the Department for Work and Pensions has now responded to BASW in a letter which you can view as a PDF or read below.

16 February 2021

Dear Dr Allen,

Thank you for your letter of 18 January to the Secretary of State about Universal Credit. I am replying as the Minister for Welfare Delivery.

Since the start of the pandemic, the Government has introduced a raft of temporary emergency measures to help the hardest hit, including the furlough scheme, the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, and the temporary £20 per week uplift to the Universal Credit Standard Allowance.

The Chancellor has confirmed the Universal Credit uplift until March this year. It is right that we wait for more clarity on the national economic and social picture before assessing the best way to support low income families moving forward.

The uplift is just one part of a comprehensive package of support we have put in place to help people through this difficult period. As we have done throughout this crisis, we will continue to assess how best to support low-income families and will review this against the context of the national economic picture.

I hope you will find this reply helpful.

Kind regards,

Will Quince - MP Minister for Welfare Delivery