Changes to the Universal Credit taper, announced in the most recent Budget by Rishi Sunak, could see more local families and higher earners being eligible for the benefit.

Urging people to check their eligibility, Upper Bann DUP MP Carla Lockhart said: "The Institute for Fiscal Studies report that as a result of the change in the Universal Credit taper, some 600,000 families across the UK will now be able to benefit from support via Universal Credit. Three in every seven families with children will be entitled to at least some Universal Credit at any one time, and many more over the course of a lifetime

"Furthermore, single parents who are paying the higher rate of income tax may also be eligible because of the changes announced in the Budget.

"This change increases the reach of welfare provision considerably. Whilst I urged the Chancellor to keep the £20 uplift in UC, his decision to remove it and to change the taper rate does go some way to lifting the burden on those needing help, and indeed the change is going to benefit many local families.

"These changes may come as early as the end of this month so I would encourage people to check their eligibility in due course. In what are difficult financial conditions for many households, any help is welcome with rising food and fuel costs, and inflation continuing to squeeze family budgets."