Benefits uplift in April must match inflation
We all know the cost of living is going up, and this is going to hardest hit those already living in poverty in the North East. Children North East is joining with partners across the country to ask the government to ensure the benefits system protects the poorest in our communities by ensuring the benefits uplift is in line with inflation.
In these difficult times, we need to come together, and we need to hold our leaders to account to ensure that everyone is able to afford the basics, to ensure babies, children and young people are able to grow up happy and healthy. We’re asking our supporters to write to their MP to ask that the government ensures benefit levels from April are set at a rate that gives families the chance to ensure their basic needs – and those of their children – are met. We want to ask you to back the call for a 7% increase in benefits in April to match inflation, and protect those on the lowest incomes from further hardship.
Below we provide guidance and a template to support your action.
Guidance on writing to your MP:
Identify their contact details using the Directory of MPs
Remember to always include your own address when you write to your MP so that they will know you live in their constituency
If writing is not possible, you can telephone your MP’s office for the best alternative course of action
Access more guidance on contacting your MP on the Parliament website
If you wish, you can copy and paste the below letter template:
Dear [NAME]
I am deeply concerned at the Government’s plan to raise benefits rates by just 3.1% in April, at a time when the cost of living and inflation is rising the quickest in over 30 years.
Figures from the Bank of England released in February show the interest rate is currently 7.25%, and the Child Poverty Action Group calculates that for thousands of families dependent on social security benefits, the impact of this below-inflation rates rise will be equivalent to a cut of £570 in their annual household budget. The fact that this comes after the £20 Universal Credit uplift was removed in October means this government will be responsible for a second cut to families’ income in 6 months.
Already in the North East 37% of children are growing up in poverty, and thousands of households in this constituency are in the position of having ‘nowhere left to make cuts to their budget’. The reality is that they will be left in the position of not being able to afford the basics of paying their bills, keeping their houses warm and putting enough food on the table.
I am writing to ask you to use your voice and influence in Parliament to raise this issue and urge the government to change its position and increase benefits in April in line with the real, current level of inflation.
Yours sincerely,
[NAME]
