The £20-per-week increase to Universal Credit, introduced by the Government in April 2020, to help struggling families, is set to be cut in October.

At Brighter Places we are standing with other Housing Associations across the country to support the Joseph Rowntree Foundation campaign to #keepthelifeline for customers claiming Universal Credit.

We are asking the Government not to take away £20 a week from millions of families’ already-precarious incomes by cutting Universal Credit this October.

A lifeline

Social security should be strong enough for all of us to rely on when we need a lifeline.  The pandemic has shown us, life is full of things we cannot plan for.

It should protect families from harm, keeping their heads above water if someone were to lose their job; if their income were too low or insecure to make ends meet; if they were sick or their family circumstances changed. It should pull people out of poverty, bringing greater stability and security, and opening-up options and opportunities.

Taking action

Chief Executive at Brighter Places, Anna Klimczak commented: “As we look to rebuild after the worst of the pandemic, it makes no sense at all to weaken social security support by cutting £20 a week from Universal Credit this October.

“Instead, the Government must ensure people who are still receiving legacy benefits, many of whom are carers or people with disabilities, are no longer excluded from this vital improvement to support.

“As a new and ambitious Housing Association with residents and communities at the heart of all we do, we are fully behind this campaign and taking action.

“I am writing to MPs representing the communities across our area to seek their support. We are sharing campaign information here on our website and social media channels to help raise awareness. And we are giving our residents the information they need to encourage and enable them to take action too.”

Residents, what you can do to help

1. Write to your MP.  As a professional within your community, you know what impact this is likely to have on families. Your MP will value your insight and you making contact will be invaluable.  Please see our guide below.
2. Meet with your MP.  You might want to consider meeting with your MP potentially with people you know who are receiving Universal Credit or Working Tax Credit and will be affected by the cut.  Add a request for an appointment to meet your MP to your email.  Please see the helpful guide from the End Child Poverty Coalition for how to prepare.

Letter template ready to personalise

You need to include your address and postcode when emailing your MP, so they know you’re in their constituency. They will be more likely to pay attention and respond this way.

MPs receive lots of emails every day and can sometimes ignore template emails.  So, make sure you adapt the letter template for your community. The template below has been adapted from one created by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

You can find your MP and their email address here.

You can download the letter template here.