STRUGGLING families are demanding the Government scraps plans to cut a weekly bonus for those on Universal Credit.

Thousands of families across south Essex will be hit hard if the £20-a-week bonus to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit is not extended in the Budget, say experts.

Figures show 20,000 households in Southend and more than 15,000 families in Basildon will be impacted.

Father-of-three Colin Nickless, 45, from Southend said it’s “madness” and must not go ahead before vulnerable families are impacted.

He said: “We’ve used it on and off as my wife does contract work but it’s been hit by the Covid lockdowns.

“We’ve also struggled with money due to the lockdowns and impact on work.

“To take away the £20 per work would take benefits back to the rates of 2003, but the cost of living has risen significantly since then.

“It’s vital people can keep this money each week and I do not see why the Government wants to stop it - it doesn’t make any sense.

“They bail out businesses and private firms when they are struggling but families facing hard times do not get this help.”

The dad also raised concerns about how people will cover bills and pay for food and car fuel.

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Mr Nickless added: “I was pleased when it was brought in as it was the first time the poorest in the community get this extra support.

“There’s a misconception that all people on the credit are just sitting at home watching television, but this country doesn’t pay wages for people to support themselves.”

Money think tank, The Fabian Society is calling for Chancellor Rishi Sunak to permanently extend the top-ups – which were introduced last Spring – or risk hitting “family finances in every corner of the country”.

The think-tank’s analysis of the latest figures show there were 17,069 households in Southend receiving Universal Credit in November last year, and around 2,600 claiming Working Tax Credit in December.