Deptford’s MP has accused the Government of “discriminating against millions of disabled people” on legacy benefits throughout the pandemic.

Six forms of legacy benefit, such as Jobseekers Allowance and Child Benefit, are gradually being replaced by the Universal Credit system, which rolls them all into a single payment.

While the Government increased Universal Credit by £20 per week in April 2020, an equivalent uplift was never introduced for people supported by the former system.

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Speaking in Parliament, Vicky Foxcroft, MP for Lewisham Deptford said: “Ministers have been asked many times about the lack of uplift to legacy benefits and every response has been woeful.

“The Government is now being taken to court to correct this discrimination.

“Do ministers not see they are discriminating against millions of disabled people on these benefits?

"This needs to be sorted. Does the minister agree that it shouldn’t take a judicial review to tackle this injustice?”

More than 1.9 million disabled people remain on legacy benefits, which are expected to be replaced by 2024.

In March's budget, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the £20 uplift to Universal Credit would continue for a further six months.

Sunak further pledged to provide equivalent support to people on Working Tax Credit, which tops up people who are on a low income despite working at least 16 hours a week.

People on other forms of legacy benefit, such as Employment Allowance, Support Allowance and Jobseekers Allowance, did not receive equivalent support.

Two legacy benefit recipients are challenging their exclusion from the £20 uplift through the courts.

Last month, they were granted a judicial review on the decision. The High Court will decide the case later this year.

Replying to Ms Foxcroft's questions, minister Will Quince said: “The Government has focused support on Universal Credit and working tax credit claimants because they are more likely to be affected by the sudden economic shock of Covid-19 than other legacy benefit claimants.

“I’m not going to comment on the live litigation, (that) legacy claimants can make a new Universal Credit claim and benefit from the £20 per week increase and the Government encourages anybody to go on gov.uk and use one of the independent benefit calculators to check carefully their eligibility before they apply.”