THE upcoming £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit will have a “catastrophic” impact across the UK, according to the Tory government's own analysis.

The Financial Times reported that a Whitehall source revealed that ministers’ internal modelling shows that “homelessness and poverty are likely to rise, and food banks usage will soar”.

“It could be the real disaster of the autumn,” they told the newspaper.

Meanwhile, a Tory minister was quoted as saying there is “no doubt that this is going to have a serious impact on thousands”.

“I think it will definitely eclipse social care as a political problem,” they predicted. “It’s not just the Red Wall MPs who are fearing a major backlash from the public.”

READ MORE: Priti Patel 'sanctions tactics' to send migrant boats back across the Channel

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, the Universal Credit cut will push a further 500,000 people into poverty. The UK Government has ignored pleas from the devolved governments to U-turn on the cut.

The SNP’s shadow work and pensions spokesperson, David Linden, said while the UK Government’s internal analysis is “no surprise”, they must change course.

"The Chancellor must immediately publish this analysis and abandon these damaging Tory cuts, which will push even more families into hardship, poverty and crisis,” the MP said.

The National:

"After a decade of Tory austerity cuts, the UK already has the worst levels of poverty and inequality in north-west Europe – and in-work poverty is now at record levels this century.

"It's now clear there will be no fair recovery under Westminster control. Instead of tackling UK poverty, the Tories are making it even worse by cutting the incomes of low and middle income workers to the bone - slashing Universal Credit, imposing a public sector pay freeze, terminating the furlough scheme prematurely, and introducing regressive tax hikes.

"The only way to keep Scotland safe from Tory cuts is to become an independent country, with the full powers needed to build a strong, fair and equal recovery."

Yesterday, MPs were told that Universal Credit claimants have not been given enough warning about the removal of £20 a week at the end of this month.

Amina Nagawa, a single mother who left Uganda to come to England in 2000, said she has not yet been told officially that the £20-a-week uplift will be stopping.

READ MORE: Covid Scotland: Nicola Sturgeon tears apart Douglas Ross Test and Protect claims

Another single mother-of-two said she had received a line about the change in her journal about a month before the cut will take effect, but no notification that her journal had been updated.

Vikki Waterman, a treatment coordinator for private cosmetic dentistry in Durham, said she was initially “completely unaware” she was receiving the uplift, or when it was due to end.

Single father-of-two Anthony Lynam said “there wasn’t really any massive warning about this” and he is aware that families on the estate where he lives still have not been alerted.

One claimant told MPs she would have to choose between keeping the internet or her car.