The £20 a week boost - introduced this year to support 6million people facing hardship due to the pandemic - is due to end in spring 2021. Right now, the extra payment equates to £1,040 a year for those on the lowest incomes – enough to keep many families afloat. However, despite warning that unemployment could top 3million next summer, Sunak refused to confirm whether the extra support would be extended. "Millions of people on Universal Credit are now facing the Christmas period in agonising uncertainty, not knowing whether the government will cut their income by £20 a week next April,” he said. In another slap in the face for 2million households, Sunak today said benefit payments will rise just 37p in April.

Source: Daily Mirror November 25, 2020 15:23 UTC