In March, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government announced an emergency increase of £20 a week for both Universal Credit and Working Tax Credits. However, the same increase was not extended to other ‘legacy’ benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), leaving many disabled people without this urgently-needed support.
The DSA would like you to take a minute to contact your MP concerning the government’s failure to increase legacy benefits, which for the majority of our members will be ESA.
Many of our members on ESA may now be incurring extra expense if they are limited to online shopping and unable to visit shops that at present, do not offer online services but are considerably cheaper.
Next month, the government will decide on the benefit rates for the forthcoming year so now is your chance to be heard.
Write to your MP to ensure Rishi Sunak uplifts legacy benefits to match the £20 per week increase that Universal Credit claimants have seen via this link: https://www.z2k.org/increase-legacy-benefits/