REGARDING the imminent removal of the £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit (UC). I feel the need to write in, as I did a month or so ago, regarding the approximately 2.5 million people in the UK still in receipt of the so-called legacy benefits which UC is replacing. As I stated previously, those people, almost two million of whom are unable to work due to disability or long-term health conditions, weren’t given any uplift to assist them financially during the pandemic, despite increased living costs.
The Disability Benefits Consortium, a body of around 100 charities, recently carried out a survey of over 1800 disabled people on legacy benefits which found that 78% experienced their financial situation as having deteriorated during the pandemic, with the vast majority having experienced increased household bills, including increased utilities costs. Almost half (46%) reported falling behind on rent or mortgage payments.
At the end of this month the High Court in London will decide whether the UK Government acted unlawfully by not giving the £20 uplift to those on the legacy benefits, which as well as disabled people also includes carers, unemployed people and families with young children.
Regardless of whether this legal challenge (brought by several claimants) is successful, and regardless of whether any DWP appeal against a finding favourable to claimants is successful, the UK Government has arguably discriminated against those on legacy benefits and effectively introduced a two-tier welfare state the past 18 months.
As I mentioned in my previous letter, the Tories wanted the £20 uplift only to be awarded to people newly claiming UC from the start of the pandemic (Covid exceptionalism!) but were advised this wasn’t possible, presumably for operational reasons. This fact, and their refusal to award the uplift to those on legacy benefits despite repeated calls for them to do so, are clear evidence of their discriminatory stance towards long-term claimants of working age.
Whether someone is disabled, a carer, a single parent raising young children or long-term unemployed, no-one deserves to go hungry or cold or homeless. No-one is less deserving than the next person of a decent social-security safety net to help them meet their basic survival needs, at least not in any society or country – or Union! – that purports to be civilised.
I’m grateful to those SNP MPs, including David Linden, Alison Thewliss et al, for not forgetting those on legacy benefits and for continuing to call for the uplift to be extended to them. Roll on the day of independence when we can turn our backs on Westminster “welfare” once
and for all and extend our genuine social security in Scotland to all benefits and all those who need them.
Saor Alba!
Mo Maclean
Glasgow
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