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<p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes and continues
to do so through many measures, including by increasing the living wage and by spending
over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p>
</p><p>The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week
uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock
of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people
during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package
worth a total of £407billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22.</p><p> </p><p>There have been
significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift
was first introduced with the success of the vaccine rollout. With the success of
the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping
people back into work. This approach is based on clear evidence about the importance
of employment, particularly where it is full-time, in substantially reducing the risks
of poverty.</p><p> </p><p>Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support
schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work.
These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements
for UC claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; Restart, which provides 12 months’
intensive employment support to UC claimants who are unemployed for a year; and JETS,
which provides light touch employment support for people who are claiming either Universal
Credit or New Style Jobseekers Allowance, for up to 6 months, helping participants
effectively re-engage with the labour market and focus their job search. We have also
recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find
a job. In total, our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million
people.</p><p> </p><p>In April this year, we increased the value of Healthy Start
Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25, helping eligible low income households buy basic
foods like milk, fruit and vitamins. We are investing up to £220m in the Holiday Activities
and Food programme, which has been expanded to every Local Authority across England.
Participating children are benefitting from a range of support, including healthy
and nutritious meals as well as fun and engaging activities covering the Easter, summer
and Christmas holidays in 2021.</p>
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