Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset, Cllr Mick Lerry, is supporting Usdaw activists in their campaign to persuade the Government to change Universal Credit rules that mean working people will only be allowed to keep 24p in every extra pound they earn.
Shopworkers trade union leader John Hannett believes that the huge 76% claw-back of additional earnings from workers on Universal Credit is unfair and a massive disincentive for people to look for ways to increase their income and work their way off benefits altogether.
Cllr Mick Lerry says: “Usdaw are right to highlight this problem with the Government’s Universal Credit and I hope Ministers will listen and act before the scheme is fully rolled out. Many working people will be clobbered by this 76% marginal deduction rate for taxpayers on Universal Credit. That will put off claimants from working longer hours and potential second earners from working at all, perpetuating the poverty trap for families on low pay.
Workers ‘thousands of pounds’ worse off
“I was shocked to hear about Usdaw members who will be thousands of pounds worse off under Universal Credit, and concerned that many workers in Bridgwater and West Somerset would also lose out under the Government’s current plans”.
“Whilst I support the principle of Universal Credit which should make it easier for people who are unemployed to move into some work, I am calling on the Government to reduce the net earnings claw-back to 55%, as originally proposed by the Centre for Social Justice, to ensure that the aims of Universal Credit are fulfilled so that extra work will always pay and to support hard working families.”
John Hannett – Usdaw General Secretary says: “We are grateful for the support of Cllr Mick Lerry. Whilst Universal Credit affects households differently, many of our members working long hours are going to be worse off when they are transferred onto Universal Credit. That loss of income is compounded because they will find it incredibly difficult to make up the shortfall by working longer hours. That is why the claw-back from additional earnings is incredibly unfair, trapping households in poverty and creating a disincentive to work. So we want the Government to ensure that work does pay by lowering the claw-back to 55p in the pound.”
Cllr Mick Lerry – Leader of the Labour Group on Sedgemoor District Council
Labour Parlimentary Candidate for Bridgwater and West Somerset
Email michael.lerry@btinternet.com
Mobile 07775905080
10th April 2014