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A report by the Social Market Foundation has found that many self employed claimants under UC will be worse off- 'Financial pressures are set to become more severe as Universal Credit is rolled out, as the amount low-paid self- employed individuals can claim will depend on how much they would be expected to earn if they were paid at the National Living Wage, rather than their actual earnings. We estimate that around a  fifth (19%) of families with an individual whose main job is self-employment are claiming in-work benefits such as tax credits and housing bene t that will be replaced by Universal Credit. We estimate that of this 19%, around 39% (or over 190,000 families) have earnings below the minimum income floor, and so are likely to be worse off under Universal Credit.'

 

Universal credit has been added as a qualifying bene t for Healthy Start Scheme food and vitamins scheme which give help to certain pregnant women, mothers and children. There is an earnings ceiling of £408 per monthly assessment period above which help is withdrawn albeit with an 8 week run on.

 

Nos. on UC- The number of people on Universal Credit as of 8 September 2016 was 338,519. Of these people 139,870 (41 per cent) were in employment.

 

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