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Over half of workers on Universal Credit are struggling to pay bills - Usdaw calls on the Chancellor to retain the £20 uplift

Date: 01 March 2021 Shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw has today released survey results showing that 57% of workers on Universal Credit are struggling to pay their gas and electric bills. 80% said they would be worried or very worried if the Government removed the £20 weekly uplift. Usdaw again urges the Chancellor to do the right thing in the Budget this Wednesday 3 March, by listening to low-paid workers who are struggling to make ends meet.
Paddy Lillis - Usdaw General Secretary says, “It is unacceptable that nearly 6 in 10 workers on Universal Credit are struggling to heat their homes. Usdaw is calling on the Chancellor to use the Budget to guarantee the £20 weekly uplift and tackle long standing issues with the Universal Credit system. The uncertainty over the weekly uplift is causing unnecessary anxiety for millions of low-paid workers.
 
“Usdaw is urging the Chancellor to recommit to the £20 uplift in this Wednesday’s Budget and in the longer term engage with trade unions and charities to fix the ongoing structural issues with Universal Credit.
 
“Usdaw has consistently called for the rollout of Universal Credit to be halted, to allow a full review and overhaul of how the Government supports the incomes of working people who are already struggling to make ends meet. We need a proper social security system that supports families, particularly during this appalling pandemic.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
Usdaw’s cost of living survey of over 8,000 members was conducted during January this year. 9% of respondents are on Universal Credit, with a further 22% receiving other forms of benefits.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion

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