Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

‘Huge worry’: Aberdeen foodbank expecting ‘influx’ of people from Universal Credit cut

Evan Adamson, from Instant Neighbour foodbank, is concerned about the impending cut to Universal Credit.
Evan Adamson, from Instant Neighbour foodbank, is concerned about the impending cut to Universal Credit.

An Aberdeen foodbank is expecting an “influx” of clients on Universal Credit after the £20 a week uplift is cut next month.

The UK Government is preparing to reduce payments by £20-a-week from October 6 – the equivalent to £1,040 a year – in the biggest cut to the basic rate of social security since the Second World War.

More than 32,000 youngsters across the north and north-east will be impacted by the cut, new figures have revealed, with more than 10,000 in the Highlands and more than 8,000 in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, respectively.

‘Huge worry’

Evan Adamson, who runs the foodbank at Aberdeen charity Instant Neighbour, said the impending cut is a “huge worry” – with at least half of the foodbank users receiving Universal Credit.

The temporary uplift was introduced to help claimants weather the storm of the coronavirus pandemic, but charities and politicians have called for it to be made permanent.

Foodbank users are experiencing a “double blow” due to the upcoming withdrawal of the £20 a week uplift and fewer food donations due to the rise in food prices, Mr Adamson added.

Evan Adamson, community connector at Instant Neighbour in Aberdeen.
Evan Adamson, community connector at Instant Neighbour in Aberdeen.

He said: “We’re expecting an influx of clients on Universal Credit when this happens because of the drop but also the end of furlough.

“There’s no doubt there’s going to be a lot of people let go, employment-wise.

“The rising cost of shopping and issues with Brexit means that donations have dropped to foodbanks as well.

“There is concern across the board in the emergency food aid sector.”

‘Utterly appalling’

Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart said it is “utterly appalling” that more than 8,000 children in the Granite City will be impacted by the cut.

It comes after we revealed last month that the north of the city is among the worst-hit constituencies in Scotland. 

He said: “Unfortunately, thousands of children across our city, and hundreds of thousands across Scotland, are now going to see support to their households being cut by the UK Government.

Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart has urged the Conservatives to oppose the cut.
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart has urged the Conservatives to oppose the cut.

“I think it’s frankly disgusting that the Tory Government are trying to balance their budget on the backs of nearly a quarter of a million children in Scotland.

“If Douglas Ross and his party genuinely cared about families, they would be opposing this cut with every fibre of their beings instead of clinging to their party line like limpets.”

‘Right these measures are removed’

Moray MP Douglas Ross defended plans to cut Universal Credit last month, despite more than 3,000 families in his constituency facing having their benefits slashed.

The Scottish Conservative leader remains tight-lipped on his personal opinion of the plan, but confirmed he did not disagree with the approach taken by the UK Government.

When asked his position, a spokesman for the Scottish Conservatives said: “During the height of the pandemic, the Scottish Conservatives successfully campaigned for the £20 uplift to be extended by six months.

Douglas Ross has defended the cut to Universal Credit stating the Scottish Government has "got to start to pay back what has been spent during this crisis".
Douglas Ross has defended the cut to Universal Credit stating the Scottish Government has “got to start to pay back what has been spent during this crisis”.

“These funds provided a safety net to nearly half a million vulnerable people in Scotland at an unprecedented, uncertain time.

“But with restrictions largely gone and our recovery under way, it is right that these measures are reviewed as the focus shifts to helping people get back into work.

“It is right that the UK Government considers carefully how it will start to pay back what has been spent during this crisis.”

Nicola Sturgeon said Boris Johnson would expose an “absence of basic humanity and moral compass” if he goes ahead with the cut.

Speaking at the SNP conference, she warned the move would “drive people into debt and, in some cases, to destitution and despair”.

‘Vital support’

A UK Government spokesman said the uplift to Universal Credit was “always temporary” and “was designed to help claimants through the economic shock and financial disruption of the toughest stages of the pandemic”.

The £20 Universal Credit uplift is due to be removed in October.
The £20 Universal Credit uplift is due to be removed in October.

He added: “Universal Credit will continue to provide vital support for those both in and out of work and it’s right that the Government should focus on our Plan for Jobs, supporting people back into work and supporting those already employed to progress and earn more.”

“The Scottish Parliament has significant welfare powers and can top-up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments and create entirely new benefits in areas of devolved responsibility.”

This article originally appeared on the Evening Express website. For more information, read about our new combined website.