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<p>No such assessments have been made of the impact on poverty levels in those areas,
on regional inequality or on educational outcomes, living standards and economic opportunities
for children in low-income households.</p><p> </p><p>The latest poverty figures (2019/20)
demonstrate that absolute poverty rates (both before and after housing costs) for
working-age adults in working families have fallen since 2009/10. In 2019/20, 8% of
working age adults in working families were in absolute poverty (before housing costs),
compared to 9% in 2009/10.</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 £407 billion 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 and
record job vacancies, it is right that our focus is on helping people back into work.</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><strong>
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