People who are claiming Universal Credit and other benefits currently have a temporary increase to their weekly income of £20 – this is set to end in April.
The Government is set to debate benefits payments on Monday and it is expected there will be a further extension to the period of the £20 per week uplift.
According to The Times, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak is drawing up plans to replace the weekly uplift, worth £1,000 per year, with a one-off payment of £500.
Labour are set to use the debate in the Commons to force an end the temporary increase making the weekly rise permanent.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “Boris Johnson’s decision to cut Universal Credit will hit millions of families who are already struggling to get by.
“There cannot be another repeat of the Government’s indecision and mismanagement of the free school meals scandal.
“The Government must put families first during this lockdown and act now instead of waiting until the last minute.
“If ministers refuse, Conservative MPs have the opportunity to vote with Labour and give families the support they need to get through this pandemic.”
