A total £98 per week for a single person aged over 25. That is what the basic rate of universal credit will increase to in April 2026.

You would be forgiven for thinking this amount must be based on an assessment of what a person needs to get by in the UK today. That would be the logical foundation for our social security system . But you would be wrong.

Our social security system – for most people, universal credit – is a vital public service and one of the founding pillars of the modern welfare state. Many of us will use universal credit at some point. If we lose our job or become unwell it should cover our living costs while we get back on our feet. If we are trapped in low-paid or insecure work, it should be there to top-up our income. But, right now, it is failing to adequatel

See Full Page