Retail trade union condemns uprating of Universal Credit

Retail trade union Usdaw has condemned today’s 3.1 percent uprating of Universal Credit in the face of RPI inflation running at 8.2 percent, the highest for over 30 years and is calling for a fundamental review of the social security system to provide a proper safety net and help make work pay.

Universal Credit is set to rise by 3.1 percent from April 11. The trade union has long been calling for a fundamental reform of Universal Credit, including significant investment to ensure it provides a social security benefit that more consistently supports workers in low-paid employment. 

Expressing the discontent, Paddy Lillis – Usdaw General Secretary alleged the Chancellor for remaining silent on Universal Credit when he delivered his Spring Statement.

“On top of the low uprating, Universal Credit remains universally discredited. 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. We need a proper social security system that supports families and provides a proper safety net, particularly in a cost of living crisis.

“The Prime Minister promised to ‘build back better’, but regrettably it seems to be more like ‘business as usual,” Lillis said.

Usdaw has long been calling for a fundamental reform of Universal Credit, including:

• Significant investment in Universal Credit, to ensure it provides a social security benefit that more consistently supports workers in low-paid employment.
• Five week wait scrapped, by making advance payments non-repayable.
• Two-child limit removed.
• Reducing the taper rate and increasing the work allowance to incentivise work.
• Benefit Cap stopped.
• Universal Credit payments paid to the main carer by default.