Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell today asked a Prime Minister’s Question calling on David Cameron to confirm that a working single mother in her constituency stands to lose a staggering £1255 per year once Universal Credit changes are added to the amount already lost as a result of the Government’s changes.
Speaking in the Welfare Benefit Uprating Bill Debate this week, Secretary of State Iain Duncan Smith had claimed that
"Universal credit is about in-work and will be a huge support to those in part-time work, starting this year."
However, Lucy’s constituent stands to lose a further £200 per year because lone parents, unlike couples, will not be eligible for the higher rate of payment under the new Universal Credit rules.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that “everybody” was affected by the changes introduced so far but despite Government’s claims that part time workers would benefit, he refused to comment on whether her constituent, a lone parent working part time would suffer further when the Universal Credit is introduced.
Lucy Powell MP for Manchester Central said;
“Can the Prime Minister confirm that single-mum Maggie from my constituency who works all the hours she can at Tesco but doesn’t earn enough to gain from the new tax allowances, will, after his changes to tax credits and Universal Credit, be a staggering £1255 a year worse off? “