Jonathan Reynolds responds to Government plans to reinstate the Minimum Income Floor (MIF)

"As we head into another national lockdown it is unthinkable to put these kind of conditions on support for the self-employed. Self-employed people have already suffered huge drops in income with many losing their livelihoods as a result of this crisis.

"Labour are calling on the Government to see sense, keep the suspension of the Minimum Income Floor, and support Britain’s self-employed.”

Ends

Notes to editors

· On 12th March 2020, the Chancellor announced that the MIF would be temporarily suspended for people directly affected by coronavirus.
· On 20th March, he announced that the MIF would be suspended for all Universal Credit claimants for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak. Regulations were passed to suspend the MIF for a period of eight months beginning on 13th March 2020 (Regulation 2 of The Social Security (Coronavirus) (Further Measures) Regulations 2020 (SI 2020/371).
· On 12th October in response to a written question the Government stated (PQ 100476) ‘We are monitoring the situation and carefully considering next steps. Universal credit claimants will be informed before the Minimum Income Floor is reinstated.’