CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak was urged to extend the £20-a-week universal credit (UC) boost indefinitely today after a survey found that unemployed and disabled people are struggling to afford food.

Unite said the survey of its Community members, who include unemployed and disabled people, found 78 per cent of respondents could not live off UC payments, even with the uplift, as they struggled to pay for food and utility bills.

But 52 per cent said the extra money helped “a lot” to make ends meet.

The £20 boost was introduced at the onset of the pandemic last year, but is due to end on March 31.

A respondent said: “You can’t eat properly. It’s cold in the winter because you can’t afford to have the heating on, you can’t buy clothes. [We] just live hand to mouth. 

“The extra £20 helps so much. It doesn’t sound much but it helps to put food on the table.”

Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner added: “Instead of taking UC away from those in need — the majority of whom are in work — the Chancellor should be extending the uplift indefinitely.”