Universal Credit Cut: Families Face Financial Blow

0:00On April 5th, starting April 6th, new applicants for the Universal Credit Health Top-Up will get just half the current amount that's dropping from 429 pounds 80 pence a month to 217 pounds 26 pence for folks unable to work due to illness or disability. The government expects to save 1 billion pounds by 2031. This hit spam was hard, especially younger claimants finishing school or education after that date. Existing recipients keep the full rate, but new ones face the cut unless they qualify for exceptions, like end of life care or severe life long. Conditions needing doctor confirmation. Moms like Erica Lai are losing sleep over it, worrying her autistic son Jack might get 200 pounds less monthly than his brother Logan with. Cerebral palsy. She fears it could push families to the brink, even into putting kids in care just to afford food. Experts from charities call it a massive financial blow, with half of current recipients already skipping meals,

1:02falling behind on bills, or unable to. Heat homes. Number show claimants jumping from 1.9 million to 3 million by 2029. The department for work and pensions pushes back, saying a boost work incentives and real support while hiking the base universal credit rate to ease living costs. Still critics argue it worsens hardship overnight for those already scraping by.