We’re currently in an unprecedented period of economic uncertainty, and while the Government has taken some significant steps to support people, including by increasing the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance,  I’m concerned that those who claim legacy benefits have been overlooked. 

Constituents who get benefits like Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseekers Allowance have so far had no similar increase, despite the difficulties they equally face during this crisis. Many who get legacy benefits have health issues or disabilities that mean that life during lockdown is particularly difficult, especially for those self-isolating. Constituents have been in contact describing how they are struggling to afford food and energy bills, during this national crisis.

I’ve written to the Work & Pensions Secretary, Therese Coffey, calling for an immediate uprating of legacy benefits to bring them in line with UC, to prevent further hardship and to enable our society as a whole to emerge together from this pandemic.

You can read my letter here: