MORE than half of those on universal credit will be unable to pay bills when the £20 uplift is cut in just over a week, research revealed today.

National poverty charity Turn2Us also found that 2.5 million people will be unable to afford food when the cut comes into effect, meaning many will be forced to choose between heating and eating as winter approaches.

About 1.5 million people will be unable to afford rent or mortgage payments and 900,000 people think it is likely they will lose their home in the next six months.

Turn2Us welfare benefit specialist Anna Stevenson said: “At the start of October, universal credit will be cut by £20 at the same time as other support schemes like furlough come to an end and energy prices rise.

“Ultimately this will push many people who are struggling to cover basic needs like food, rent and utility bills, over a financial cliff edge. 

“This is a real cliff-edge moment for thousands of people across the country.”

The charity is calling on the government to keep the £20 increase and extend it to legacy benefits.