Almost 1m Londoners claiming Universal Credit

The Universal Credit standard allowance for a single person over the age of 25 is £85 a week

Almost one million Londoners are claiming Universal Credit, according to latest data from the Department for Work and Pensions.

In September, 977,966 Londoners were receiving Universal Credit, an increase of more than 30,000 people - or more than a 3% rise - since May.

London Labour says the government "must address" the cost of living "so fewer Londoners are forced into poverty".

A government spokesperson said benefits had been raised by over 10% this year.

Research from the Trussell Trust shows 90% of those on Universal Credit are currently going without what it says are essentials.

Between April and September 2022, the organisation gave out almost 1.3 million food parcels across the UK, which it says is due to "inadequate social security".

The Universal Credit standard allowance for a single person over the age of 25 is £85 a week.

The Trussell Trust says it would need to be at least £120 a week for people to not go without basic essentials including food, clothes and toiletries.

'Not always enough'

Samantha Yexley, a full-time carer and mum of four, told the BBC the Universal Credit she received was "not always enough to get through".

She said her family had been struggling recently as she had been left without her carer's allowance for her son, who has DiGeorge syndrome, as his disability living allowance (DLA) was now being paid as a personal independent payment (PIP).

Ms Yexley, from West Hampstead, said the government did not tell her about the change and her family were now left with little money for the next eight weeks.

"It feels like the government are trying not to pay out unless they have to," she said.

The 41-year-old mum said the next few months were "going to be very stressful, my kids aren't getting the clothes they need and we've had to visit a foodbank twice already."

She added: "There's no support to help fill in paperwork and it's really not a simple process to claim benefits.

"I've done the calculations with my partner, who is working part-time, and we realised you're worse off working a part-time job that pays under £26,000 as your Universal Credit goes down a lot more. So really, it's pointless to go back to work."

Samantha has cared for son since he was six years old

London Assembly Labour economy spokesperson, Marina Ahmad, is calling for the government to lift the amount paid through Universal Credit.

She said: "More people than ever cannot find stable, well-paid, work to support themselves and their families so have been forced to use government benefits instead.

"We know that the low amount of these payments keeps people in punishing levels of poverty. Claimants are being forced to skip meals, go into debt, and dread their next bill."

A government spokesperson said: "We are increasing the National Living Wage again, on top of record financial support worth around £3,300 per household.

"We know work is the best route out of poverty which is why we are delivering measures designed to support people to enter work, increase their working hours and extend their working lives."

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