STAFF and volunteers at Citizens Advice Dorset hear stories every day of families whose lives have been turned upside down by this pandemic.

Some had never needed support from the benefits system before, while others were already struggling to get by before Covid struck. In total we’ve given over 2,500 people one-to-one advice on Universal Credit since the first lockdown in March. 64% people seeking our support on benefits used our services for the very first time.

We know that the government’s £20 a week boost to the Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic often made the difference between empty cupboards and food on the table.

But that lifeline is currently set to end in just a few short months. It’s a cut that’s likely to push people into missed bills, mounting debts and a daily struggle to make ends meet. It’s a cut that will also drain spending power from our fragile economy.

With an ongoing pandemic and a bleak outlook in the jobs market, we’re urging the government to keep that lifeline. It’s the right thing to do to support people who’ve lost livelihoods through no fault of their own.

Rovarn Wickremasinghe

Chief Officer, Citizens Advice Bridport

• Citizens Advice Bridport www.bridportca.org.uk tel: 0800 144 8848