Guaranteeing our Essentials
Under the Conservative UK Government, social security benefits have frequently failed to rise in line with increased prices. This has led to a situation in which nearly three-quarters of people in the UK experiencing destitution are in receipt of social security.
By linking core benefits with inflation, this maintains current amounts without further penalising recipients, and stopping future governments from using benefits as a political football.
Plaid Cymru support an Essentials Guarantee level to ensure that all individuals and families receive at least the minimum required for their daily life. The costs of this have been calculated by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as being £120 for an individual each week and £200 for a couple.
By making this a legal minimum in Universal Credit, the standard allowance would be set so that any deductions do not take income below this threshold.