#KeepTheLifeline: Letter to MPs (England, Scotland, Wales)
Letter to your MP
To find your MP’s email address, go to: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP
Please note this letter must go from your personal email address and not a work email address.
Subject: Letter from your constituent
Dear [insert the name of your MP here],
I oppose the planned cut to Universal Credit due to happen this autumn.
I am a member of the British Association of Social Workers. Social workers see first-hand the impact that poverty has on people, especially families. Cutting Universal Credit will have a significant impact on the role of social workers as children who are in poverty are significantly more likely to be in the care of the state. The huge majority of parents in poverty parent well, but for those parents who are struggling, poverty makes the task of parenting much, much harder. Cutting financial support will only make families poorer and make parenting more difficult. Not only does this add a further layer of hardship to families, but it puts an additional strain on local authorities who have a statutory duty to support children at risk. Cutting Universal Credit simply transfers the financial responsibility to already-stretched local authorities.
The Government may not view £20 per week to be a large amount of money for those who need additional income to get by, but the reality is that the £20 could be keeping the heads of an individual or a family above water.
We all look forward to the end of COVID-19, but the reality is that the virus is still present, and we continue to live with the impact of the virus on our society. Jobs have been lost, many people are experiencing poor health or a severe loss of income. With winter around the corner, which will lead to increased energy bills, that £20 is important to prevent people from getting unwell by living in below-acceptable temperatures.
The £20 is a lifeline, and people will unnecessarily struggle without it.
I urge you to write to the Prime Minister, asking him to reconsider his plan.
Best wishes,
NAME
ADDRESS/POSTCODE (you must provide this to prove you are a constituent)
Letter to the Prime Minister/Chancellor/Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
This must also be sent from a personal email address, and not a work email address.
To: secretaryofstate@dwp.gov.uk; CEU.Enquiries@hmtreasury.gov.uk; ministerial.correspondence@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Subject: Letter from a UK resident
To the Prime Minister/Chancellor of the Exchequer/Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [delete as appropriate]
I oppose the planned cut to Universal Credit due to happen this autumn.
I am a member of the British Association of Social Workers. Social workers see first-hand the impact that poverty has on people, especially families. Cutting Universal Credit will have a significant impact on the role of social workers as children who are in poverty are significantly more likely to be in the care of the state. The huge majority of parents in poverty parent well, but for those parents who are struggling, poverty makes the task of parenting much, much harder. Cutting financial support will only make families poorer and make parenting more difficult. Not only does this add a further layer of hardship to families, but it puts an additional strain on local authorities who have a statutory duty to support children at risk. Cutting Universal Credit simply transfers the financial responsibility to already-stretched local authorities.
Your Government may not view £20 per week to be a large amount of money for those who need additional income to get by, but the reality is that the £20 could be keeping the heads of an individual or a family above water.
We all look forward to the end of COVID-19, but the reality is that the virus is still present, and we continue to live with the impact of the virus on our society. Jobs have been lost, many people are experiencing poor health or a severe loss of income. With winter around the corner, which will lead to increased energy bills, that £20 is important to prevent people from getting unwell by living in below-acceptable temperatures.
The £20 is a lifeline, and people will unnecessarily struggle without it.
I urge you to reconsider your plan and put people’s wellbeing at the heart of Government policy.
Best wishes,
NAME
ADDRESS/POSTCODE