Covid pandemic 'pulling more Harrogate people into hardship' as Universal Credit claims rise

Citizens Advice has issued a warning over signs that the Covid pandemic is dragging more people into hardship across Harrogate.
The most recent figures released by Harrogate Job Centre show a steep rise from last year in the ‘alternative claimant count’.The most recent figures released by Harrogate Job Centre show a steep rise from last year in the ‘alternative claimant count’.
The most recent figures released by Harrogate Job Centre show a steep rise from last year in the ‘alternative claimant count’.

Craven and Harrogate Districts Citizens Advice raised its concerns after seeing the number of people claiming Universal Credit in Harrogate rising 81% since the pandemic started.

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In addition, the most recent figures released by Harrogate Job Centre showed a steep rise from last year in the ‘alternative claimant count’ - with an additional 2,193 people claiming Universal Credit who are required to look for work and who are on council tax and/or housing benefit.

Although the increase is from a low base, it amounts to 169% in a year for all age groups.

Citizens Advice is now calling on the Government to extend the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift it introduced last year beyond its planned end date in April.

Edward Pickering, chief officer of Citizens Advice Craven & Harrogate Districts, which has continued to provide one-to-one support throughout the pandemic, described the £20 a week uplift as a “lifeline that has helped pay the bills and put food on the table”.

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Mr Pickering said: “In Harrogate the number of people claiming Universal Credit has risen 81% since the pandemic started.

“Staff and volunteers at Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate Districts have helped 551 people with Universal Credit since March last year.

“Around 50% of people in the Harrogate district seeking advice from us on benefits have never contacted the charity before.

“For households in Harrogate the potential loss of the £20 a week uplift is equivalent to three days’ food and almost seven days’ energy costs.”

Universal Credit: What Harrogate MP Andrew Jones says

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Harrogate and Knaresborough MP, Andrew Jones, pictured, said the area had weathered the Covid-19 storm better than many places with unemployment historically low at around 4.2 per cent, which is more than two percentage points lower than the national average.

Mr Jones praised the support measures the Chancellor had taken during Covid but said, ultimately, the Government should address the financial needs of the poorest in society to match the situation, which he hoped would happen in the forthcoming budget.

He said: "When lockdown began the government realised that this may put additional strain on the poorest families and, without any pressure to do so politically, increased Universal Credit payments by £20 a week giving those who struggle to make ends meet an extra £1000 a year.

“But, in normal times we shouldn’t set levels of support for the poorest in our society arbitrarily.

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"We should set benefits like Universal Credit at the objective level people need it to be at to have a reasonable quality of life, taking in to account all the reasonable factors that make up their household expenditure as well as any other income.

“That is a job for the budget in a few weeks’ time and I know that the Chancellor will be thinking of those people who might struggle to make ends meet just as he did when he increased Universal Credit by £20 at the beginning of the first lockdown.”

Universal Credit: What Harrogate Lib Dems say

The Lib Dem leader at Harrogate Borough Council said she supported the plea made by Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate Districts to extend the £20 a week uplift for Universal Benefit recipients.

Coun Pat Marsh said: “These people are having to cope on very little with very few opportunities to improve their situations for many and varied reasons.

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“How can the Government remove this vital support during these most difficult of times? Compare that with the way the Government have handed out billions of our pounds to their donors without a blink of an eye then the removal of the £20 supplement has to be morally abhorrent.

“I feel it should not be a plea but a demand that the £20 supplement is paid.”

Coun Marsh said there was no room for complacency over the economy.

“Covid is not going away. The unemployment situation is not going to improve and on top of that the impact that Brexit may have on our local economy has yet to emerge.

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“A Government should look after everyone not just those who donate to them.”

Fears for future of jobs in Harrogate's hospitality sector

Annie Lancashire, best practice lead at Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate District, said it was clear the pandemic had had an impact, even in Harrogate.

She said she was worried about the Covid effect on jobs in the hospitality sector, in particular should the Government’s furloughing scheme which is helping keep millions of workers on payrolls across the country, come to an end.

She said: “If you look at the new claims to Universal Credit numbers in our area it is clear that the increase is a result of the pandemic.

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“The the biggest jump was last year with the announcement of the first lockdown. But we are concerned about the impact the end of the furlough scheme may have on unemployment levels, considering the high percentage of employee jobs in Harrogate that are in the accommodation and food services industry.

“We have already advised many hospitality workers who have experienced furlough and are subsequently facing redundancy.”

How to get help from Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate Districts is keen to highlight that it continues to be available for local communities, operating remotely to provide the free, independent and impartial advice that people need to find a way forward.

Despite the pandemic, Citizens Advice Craven and Harrogate Districts, Edward Pickering, (pictured) chief officer of Citizens Advice Craven & Harrogate Districts, said the service has continued to operate remotely to provide the free, independent and impartial advice that people need to find a way forward.

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Its telephone Adviceline is free of charge from all landlines and mobiles (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm - 0808 278 7900).

Email advice is available via website: www.cachd.org.uk/email.

Citizens Advice also offers a dedicated free phoneline specifically for assistance navigating the early stages of a Universal Credit claim.

Its Help to Claim phone service is available on: 0800 144 8 444, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4pm.

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People within North Yorkshire can also contact it through the North Yorkshire Money and Benefits Service if they need support with benefit entitlement, claims and appeals, accessing other income such as charitable and statutory grants, managing your money and making it go further or help with debts.

Call: 0300 3031 598, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm - or leave a voicemail outside these times.

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