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One Universal Credit rate set to leave UK households £280 worse off in DWP cut

That is because the top-up will become less valuable after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts today.

One Universal Credit rate set to leave UK households £280 worse off in DWP cut
One Universal Credit rate set to leave UK households £280 worse off in DWP cut(Image: PA)

There are 2.4 million families getting the Universal Credit health top-up would get £280 less a year from 2028-9, the IFS says. That is because the top-up will become less valuable after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts today.

Speaking in Parliament today, Liz Kendall announced a sweeping package of reforms to overhaul the system, so it better supports those who need it while tearing down barriers to work including ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security.


The DWP will also scrap the controversial Work Capability Assessment to end the dysfunctional process that drives people into dependency – delivering on the government’s manifesto commitment to reform or replace it.


READ MORE State pensioners born urged to avoid £824 act which is 'waste of money'

Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion – one of the biggest packages of employment support for sick and disabled people ever - including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work


Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. Downing Street said ministers have undertaken "difficult decisions" but insists they were the "right thing to do".

Asked what the government would say to those left worse off by the benefits overhaul, a No 10 spokesman said there is “currently a broken social security system which is holding people and our country back”.

“There are three million people out of work for health reasons, and as we’ve said, one in eight young people not currently in work, education or training, one in every 10 working age people claiming at least one benefit," he said.

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“So the system needs to change, the alternative of doing nothing would be the wrong thing to do. So we appreciate these are difficult decisions, but it is the right thing to do.

When put to him that the benefit bill would stand at £70 billion a year even once the reforms are made, he replied: “No one’s pretending that this isn’t a significant issue.

"This situation is not just bad for the economy, it’s bad for people to it’s a two-pronged issue."

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