{"id":62003,"date":"2021-12-17T13:31:55","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T13:31:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=62003"},"modified":"2023-10-11T09:49:28","modified_gmt":"2023-10-11T08:49:28","slug":"the-impact-of-the-universal-credit-uplift-removed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/12\/17\/the-impact-of-the-universal-credit-uplift-removed\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I\u2019m afraid to put my heating on\u2019: The impact of losing \u00a320 a week in universal credit"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"with-the-universal-credit-uplift-introduced-in-april-2020-now-removed-many-south-wales-residents-say-they-face-a-long-harsh-winter\">With the universal credit uplift introduced in April 2020 now removed, many South Wales residents say they face a long, harsh winter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"An image showing \u00a386 \" class=\"wp-image-62262\" width=\"770\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"An image showing \u00a386 \" class=\"wp-image-62262\" width=\"770\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>What does \u00a386 mean to you? The removal of the universal credit uplift means claimants will receive \u00a386 less each month. Credit: Emma Blackmore <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\"><mark style=\"background-color:#ffffff\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-purple-color\">W<\/mark>rapped up in a thick grey jumper, Kay Harris is sitting in her home in Bettws, near Bridgend. It&#8217;s a six degrees outside, but Kay hasn&#8217;t turned her heating on all winter, it&#8217;s a luxury she can&#8217;t afford. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She joins almost 200,000 people on universal credit in South Wales who have been impacted by the UK Government\u2019s decision to remove the \u00a320 a week uplift on 6 October 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In April 2020, claimants received an extra \u00a320 a week to help with the economic uncertainty created by the pandemic. The boost was introduced to assist people who were put on furlough or had lost their jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/relative-income-poverty-april-2019-march-2020-html\">one in five<\/a> people living in poverty, Wales has been significantly affected by Covid-19. The beginning of this year saw a sharp rise in households turning to universal credit in Cardiff especially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of households (a single person or co-habiting couple with or without children) on universal credit increased by over 1,000 between December 2020 and January 2021, the same time the second national lockdown was imposed. The month prior, the number had started to decrease by 300. &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An anti-poverty group, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.jrf.org.uk\/universal-credit-cut-impact-constituency\">Joseph Rowntree Foundation<\/a>, has claimed that an average of 21.5% of working-age families (with or without children) in South Wales will experience a \u00a31,040 a year cut to their universal credit claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"watch-a-video-on-how-the-universal-credit-cut-is-affecting-two-local-people-1\">Watch a video on how the universal credit cut is affecting two local people:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" title=\"&#039;I&#039;m afraid to put my heating on&#039;: The impact of losing \u00a320 a week in universal credit\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vEflpJyd1lE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><noscript><iframe title=\"&#039;I&#039;m afraid to put my heating on&#039;: The impact of losing \u00a320 a week in universal credit\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vEflpJyd1lE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/noscript>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-universal-credit\">What is universal credit?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background wp-block-list\"><li>Universal credit is a single benefit payment paid monthly for working-age people. It was introduced in 2013 and replaced Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-is-taper-rate\">What is taper rate?<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"has-pale-ocean-gradient-background has-background wp-block-list\"><li>The taper rate is the amount of universal credit payments a claimant will lose as they work and earn more above a certain threshold known as the work allowance. In October, it was announced that the taper rate would reduced from 63% to 55%.<\/li><li>This means for every \u00a31 earned over the work allowance, the amount of universal credit paid will be reduced by 55p, rather than 63p.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-have-the-people-of-south-wales-been-affected\">How have the people of South Wales been affected?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Previously a full-time-carer to her mother and husband, Kay Harris from Bettws has claimed universal credit since her husband died in July 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 55-year-old\u2019s application took seven weeks to process, two weeks longer than the normal waiting time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC_2.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Kay Harris \" class=\"wp-image-62342\" width=\"235\" height=\"313\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC_2.jpg\" alt=\"A portrait of Kay Harris \" class=\"wp-image-62342\" width=\"235\" height=\"313\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Kay Harris, 55, from Bettws near Bridgend, feels the universal credit cut has been a punishment to the vulnerable. Credit: Kay Harris <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Since the removal of the uplift in October, Kay\u2019s monthly income has decreased from \u00a3628 to \u00a3541.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m afraid to put my heating on,\u201d she says. \u201cI know I can\u2019t afford to pay the bill at the end of month, Not on the money I\u2019m getting anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;To be without \u00a31,044 a year is a lot when you rely on that money to live on. Especially when I have to pay \u00a368 a month for the bedroom tax. By the time I\u2019ve paid my electricity, my gas, my TV licence, my phone bill, it doesn\u2019t leave a lot for food shopping.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kay, who has two grown-up sons, had to rely on food banks last month and now with the rise of food and fuel prices, her expenditure has increased each month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t have an option,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m struggling terribly. I\u2019ve never been like this before.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-style-default is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>I&#8217;m struggling terribly. I&#8217;ve never been like this before<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>In October Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, reduced the taper rate from 63% to 55%. This means that claimants who earned over the work allowance would receive more universal credit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is part of the UK Government\u2019s Plan for Jobs initiative to get people back into work. Kay, whose ill health prevents her from working, believes it\u2019s a punishment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kay suffers from asthma, arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) an illness that affects the lungs and makes it difficult to breathe. Despite this, she\u2019d love to go back to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI can\u2019t see people wanting to employ a 55-year-old with ill health. It\u2019s a risk,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re punishing people who are vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think the Welsh Government are doing enough, but they have their hands tied,\u201d she adds. As a member of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitetheunion.org\/\">Unite the Union<\/a> Community, a trade union that strives for equality, Kay protested about the removal of the uplift in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unitetheunion.org\/news-events\/news\/2021\/september\/unite-members-stage-senedd-protest-at-universal-credit-cut\/\">September<\/a>, outside the Senedd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She exclaims, \u201cI believe in sticking up for your own rights!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-has-welsh-government-responded-1\">How has Welsh Government responded?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Welsh Government strongly condemned the UK Government\u2019s plan to cut the uplift and said it would likely lead to a breakdown for families already on the breadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jane Hutt, Minister for Social Justice, said, \u201cThe ending of the \u00a320 per week means households across Wales are heading towards a financial cliff edge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From 13 December, the Welsh Government are offering a \u00a3100 <a href=\"https:\/\/gov.wales\/winter-fuel-support-scheme-opens-monday-13th-december\">one-off payment<\/a> to eligible households on universal credit to help fuel bills in a small effort to offset the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-big-and-worrying-issue-across-cardiff-1\">The big (and worrying) issue across Cardiff <\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A big issue seller standing outside\" class=\"wp-image-62177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"A big issue seller standing outside\" class=\"wp-image-62177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-770x385.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1366x683.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-585x293.jpg 585w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1170x585.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-293x147.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC-1400x700.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/12\/EmmaBlackmore_LongerReads_UC.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption>Lee Mcadorey, 48, buys the magazine for half the cover price and then sells it for the full price. He&#8217;s been a seller for a few years now. Credit: Emma Blackmore<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s always a slow sales day when it\u2019s drizzling, but <em>Big Issue <\/em>seller Lee Mcadorey is singing triumphantly in St. Mary Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBuy an issue, fa la la la la. \u2018Tis the season to be jolly la la la,\u201d he sings, \u201c<em>Big Issue<\/em> \u2013 you can even pay by card!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 48-year-old, originally from Blaenavon, lives with his ten-year-old daughter in vulnerable housing and has been on universal credit since before the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wearing a Santa and reindeer costume, Lee says the uplift should have remained because we are <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2021\/12\/14\/cardiffs-queer-emporium-forced-to-postpone-charity-gala-due-to-rising-omicron-rates\/\">still in a pandemic.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI became reliant on it and now that it\u2019s been taken away, it was a bit of a shock,\u201d he says, especially with the rise in the cost of electricity and food which the \u00a320 a week went towards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He says the Welsh Government aren\u2019t doing enough to help the homeless and vulnerable, notably when there are big events held in Cardiff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJust like the sweepers cleaning the streets, they sweep the homeless off the streets. I\u2019ve seen it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lee is also worried that the government will force people to be vaccinated in order to continue receiving benefits. He would prefer to wait until there is more research available about the vaccine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf that happened, I wouldn\u2019t be able to live. I wouldn\u2019t be able to afford to live,\u201d he stresses, \u201cI would be homeless again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is certain for Kay and Lee is a tough new year ahead, with plenty of thick layers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-vivid-purple-color has-text-color wp-block-heading\" id=\"a-map-of-south-wales-showing-the-number-of-families-estimated-to-be-impacted-by-the-universal-credit-cut-1\">A map of South Wales showing the number of families estimated to be impacted by the universal credit cut<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/nqlsd\/1\/\" width=\"600\" height=\"801\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/nqlsd\/1\/\" width=\"600\" height=\"801\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With the universal credit uplift introduced in April 2020 now removed, many South Wales residents say they face a long, harsh winter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":758,"featured_media":62177,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7087,36,7937],"tags":[7395,269,7609,409,7611,7612,3211,325],"coauthors":[7368],"class_list":["post-62003","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-reads","category-no-logo","category-the-edit","tag-big-issue","tag-cardiff-council","tag-fuel-prices","tag-homelessness","tag-universal-credit","tag-universal-credit-cut","tag-vulnerable","tag-welsh-government"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - 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