Six-month extension to Universal Credit uplift ‘kicks the can down the road’
Citizens Advice has responded to an announcement in today’s Budget that the £20-a-week increase to Universal Credit will be extended for six months.
Alistair Cromwell, Acting Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, says:
“It will be a huge relief for people on Universal Credit to not face a cut to their benefits next month. But with a challenging recovery ahead of us, this is a stopgap.
“A six-month extension kicks the can down the road, only to leave millions facing a financial cliff edge in the autumn.
“We urge the government to think again. The Universal Credit uplift must be kept for at least a year to help people pick up the pieces from this crisis.”
Notes to editors
- Citizens Advice includes the national charity; the network of independent local Citizens Advice charities across England and Wales; the Citizens Advice consumer service; and the Witness Service.
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