New research shows 1.2m people fear they will be forced to skip meals if the Government cuts Universal Credit payments this October.A new report from the Trussell Trust also shows 1.3m people fear being unable to heat their homes this winter if the cut goes ahead.

The Trust is asking local people to write to Jacob Rees-Mogg MP to help protect people in the community from hunger, as a new survey from the Trussell Trust lays bare the devastating impacts of a £20 a week cut from Universal Credit payments due across the UK next month.

New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of the Trussell Trust* finds that a fifth of people currently claiming Universal Credit – representing 1.2 million people in the UK – say they are ‘very likely’ to need to skip meals when the cut hits. Furthermore, 21% of people surveyed – representing 1.3 million people – told researchers they would struggle to heat their homes this winter if their income is slashed in October.

Worryingly, 11% surveyed representing 670,000 people, say it’s very likely they won’t be able to afford to switch on their oven to cook food after the cut and 900,000 people say they are very likely not to have enough money to travel to work or make essential trips such as medical appointments.

Since the introduction of the £20 increase to universal credit , fewer people have needed to use foodbank services, which goes to show it is working and needs to be kept in place. However, this is the biggest overnight cut to social security since the Second World War and will be a huge blow for millions of families both in and out of work. It’ll also land, just as the colder weather starts drawing in. Even more people would need help from a foodbank this winter.

Social security should be strong enough for everyone to rely on when we need a lifeline – because, as the pandemic has shown us, life is full of things we can’t plan for. The UK government must choose to protect people when they need support, not cut them adrift. If you agree, please write to Jacob Rees-Mogg MP and ask them to help keep the lifeline.”

Local people are being urged to write to their MP and call on them to take action: trusselltrust.org/keepthelifeline.

The Trussell Trust says the planned cut isn’t right and the vast majority of the UK public agrees. The research finds only one in five members of the UK public surveyed believes that social security provided enough support to people with physical and / or mental health conditions, which affect most people visiting food banks.