A YORK MP has backed a national union’s call to urge the Government to change its rules on Universal Credit.

Under the current rules, working people can keep 24p in every extra pound they earn while receiving UC, but shop workers’ union Usdaw say this is unfair and discourages people from working.

Hugh Bayley said: “Usdaw are right to highlight this problem with the Government’s Universal Credit, I hope Ministers will listen and act before the scheme is fully rolled out. Many people will be clobbered by this 76 per cent marginal deduction rate for taxpayers on Universal Credit. It will put off claimants from working longer hours and potential second earners from working at all, perpetuating the poverty trap for families on low pay.

“Some Usdaw members will be thousands of pounds worse off under Universal Credit. Retail is a big part of York’s economy and I’m worried that thousands of my hard-working constituents would also lose out under the Government’s current plans. I want to hear from people in York Central about how they will be affected.”

Mr Bayley said he feels the Government should only take 55 per cent of each extra pound earned, “to ensure that the aims of Universal Credit are fulfilled so that extra work will always pay and to support hard working families” and has signed an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons to call for the change.