Benefits boost needed for another year to avoid ‘sending thousands into poverty,’ warn MPs

Latest updates and essential advice from The Independent [View in browser]( [Alternate text] Daily briefing February 09, 2021 Today’s essential news from the source you trust This morning’s headlines The universal credit uplift introduced at the start of the pandemic [must be extended by a year “at the very least”]( to prevent hundreds of thousands of households being “plunged into poverty”, MPs have warned. The £20 weekly increase, brought in last April to mitigate the impact of coronavirus on household finances, is set to end on 31 March. A new report by the Work and Pensions Committee finds that removing the extra payment as planned would represent a “failure” by the government to recognise the reality of people struggling as a result of the pandemic. Chancellor Rishi Sunak is reported to be pushing against the extra payments, which cost £6bn annually, being maintained despite intense opposition from some Conservative MPs, opposition parties and anti-poverty campaigners. Since March, the number of people claiming universal credit has doubled to about 6 million, while job vacancies remain far below pre-pandemic levels. Anyone in England aged over 70 who has not been invited to receive a coronavirus vaccine [should now contact the NHS]( to make an appointment, Matt Hancock has announced, in a change to the government’s tactics. The health secretary issued the call at a Downing Street press conference, where he revealed that 91 per cent of over-80s, 95 per cent of people aged 75 to 79 and almost three-quarters of those aged between 70-74 have now received their first Covid-19 jab. The NHS has previously appealed to over-70s to wait for an invitation to be vaccinated, to avoid hospitals and clinics being overwhelmed with phone calls. But Mr Hancock said that the procedure was now being changed to try to make sure that as many as possible of the most vulnerable people are protected as the government approaches its 15 February deadline to vaccinate the over-70s, health and care staff and those with certain underlying health issues. The stage is set for [the second impeachment trial of former US president Donald Trump]( after Senate leaders agreed to a rules package governing the proceedings. While Mr Trump is all but assured to be acquitted, with most Republicans already indicating they oppose the trial on constitutional grounds, the spectacle is certain to reopen fresh wounds for a nation still reeling from the nightmarish scenes at the US Capitol on 6 January. President pro tempore of the Senate Patrick Leahy will officially raise the curtain on the trial on Tuesday, presiding over the chamber as senators listen to four hours of arguments from both sides about the constitutionality of putting a former president on trial. Beginning at noon on Wednesday, the nine House impeachment managers, led by Maryland Democrat Jamie Raskin, will have 16 hours over two days to present their case against Mr Trump, who stands accused of inciting the deadly insurrection at the Capitol where a mob of his supporters overran police lines and sacked the legislature. Follow the latest updates on the impeachment trial [in our liveblog](. . We need your support The Independent employs over 100 journalists around the world to bring you news you can trust. Please consider showing your support with a contribution. [Contribute]( . Top stories [Snow and ice to continue as Storm Darcy causes travel disruption]( [All UK arrivals to take two Covid tests under tougher quarantine rules]( [Brexit ‘failed to take UK out of EU as single country’, Tory MP admits]( . Get the full Independent perspective Subscribe today for £1 and enjoy unlimited access to our trusted journalism. [Subscribe now]( . More news - [Ethnic clashes in Darfur could reignite Sudan's old conflict]( - [Hong Kong denies bail for opposition publisher Jimmy Lai]( - [Facing US investigation, Honduras president denies drug ties]( - [UN experts say North Korea still modernizing nuclear arsenal]( - [Ethiopia gives UN green light to deploy 25 staff to Tigray]( . News you can trust The Independent has a 100% NewsGuard trust rating [NewsGuard] [Find out more]( . If you can spare two minutes we’d love to hear your [feedback]( on our newsletters [Alternate text] Join the conversation or follow us [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Please do not reply directly to this email You are currently registered to receive The Independent's News email. Add us to your safe list of senders. If you do not want to receive The Independent News email and Breaking News alerts, please [unsubscribe](list_name=IND_Headlines_Masterlist_CDP). If you no longer wish to receive any newsletters or promotional emails from The Independent, you can unsubscribe [here](. This e-mail was sent by Independent Digital News and Media Ltd, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5HF. Registered in England and Wales with company number 07320345. Read our [privacy notice]( and [cookie policy](.