As the Conservatives prepare to slash Universal Credit for thousands of families in Medway, new analysis reveals the cut will leave families £220 worse off by Christmas.

The Universal Credit cut comes in on Wednesday 6 October, leaving recipients facing 11 weeks of reduced support before December 25th. The Tories seem to ignore the fact that 40% of people on UC are working but the problem of low wages means the state is subsidising employers. 

The cut comes amid a wider squeeze for working families including rising energy prices, the disproportionately high cost of private rent, the proposed National Insurance hike, and widespread fears that the Conservatives plan to raise council tax to fund its social care commitments.

The Universal Credit cut will see thousands of recipients lose £1,040 a year – at great cost to the local economy where Medway businesses are still struggling to recover from the Coronavirus shut downs and are no longer receiving any government support.

Cllr Teresa Murray, Deputy Leader of the Medway Labour and Cooperative Group said:

“Working families in Medway are taking an absolute battering from the Conservatives. Higher tax, lower support and rising energy prices – this is a perfect storm and local families are being abandoned by this Tory Government just when they need them most.

“Ministers like to pretend that this crisis won’t hit families hard but the truth is that those on Universal Credit will be down £220 by Christmas alone – that’s more than half the average family Christmas budget.

“People in Medway need real support, but all they get from this Conservative government are empty slogans and a cost of living crisis that could ruin Christmas. Medway deserves better.”