In March 2020, the Government increased the standard rate of Universal Credit and working tax credits by £1,000 a year (£20 a week). However, the same increase wasn’t applied to those on legacy benefits, including Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, and Job Seekers Allowance. This resulted in over 1.9 million disabled people being denied the emergency uplift to support them through the pandemic.
As part of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC) we have been calling on the Government to extend this £20 lifeline and, while it has still not happened, the High Court is to decide whether it was lawful of the Government not to give people on legacy benefits the same £20 per week increase as those on Universal Credit in September.
This is a positive step in recognising the unfair treatment of disabled people on legacy benefits, but the fight to end this discrimination hasn’t ended yet. Your feedback will help us to show the Government they must urgently #IncreaseLegacyBenefits.
The survey will take 5 minutes to complete and closes on 20 August 2021.
Should I complete the survey?
Please complete the survey if you live in the UK, are over 18, and have a disability.
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Your responses could be used in our campaigning, media, or parliamentary work. But, your individual responses will be anonymous and confidential. You won’t be identified by the findings. You’re free to withdraw from the survey at any point.
Below are some useful helpline numbers if you’d like to talk to someone about any of the issues raised in this survey:
MS Helpline free of charge on 0808 800 8000 (Monday to Friday 9am-7pm)
Citizens Advice helpline
0800 144 8848 0808 802 2000, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Mondays-Fridays.
Turn2us helpline: 0808 802 2000, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm Mondays-Fridays.
z2K.org: 0207 259 0801