A COUNCILLOR has expressed their concern about how families in the Vale will be impacted by the government’s decision to cut the £20 universal credit uplift.

Following a motion at a council meeting this week, councillor Emily Smith, leader of Vale of White Horse District Council, is to write to the chancellor of the exchequer and the secretary of state for work and pensions to call for the reverse of the universal credit uplift cut.

In March 2020, the government increased universal credit and working tax credit by £20 a week to support families whose income had been affected as the country faced the economic fallout from the pandemic.

The government ended this additional payment this week, resulting in the biggest overnight cut to the basic rate of social security since the modern welfare state began, more than 70 years ago.

The removal will impact more than 7,500 families in the Vale of White Horse, figures suggest.

Cllr Smith said: “As a council we are absolutely committed to supporting vulnerable members of our community and work hard to assist those who face financial hardship. Unfortunately, by removing the £20 uplift, the government will put even more pressure on families who may already be struggling to make ends meet. We are therefore calling on the government to reverse this cut and to make the £20 uplift a permanent source of support.”