Boris Johnson has made an untrue claim at PMQs about the amount of support workers will get in a Tier 3 lockdown.
The Prime Minister said "whatever happens", government schemes will mean "nobody gets less than 93% of their current income" if their bar or pub is shut.
This is untrue, because while many workers can get this sum, not all of them can.
It also contradicts his own Work and Pensions Secretary, who said this morning that workers "may be eligible for" a top-up, "depending on household income".
The Tory leader said the 93% could be reached by taking the Job Support Scheme, which pays 67% of wages, and topping it up with Universal Credit.
However, Universal Credit is not paid to anyone who has £16,000 or more of savings, or if their partner has more than £16,000 of savings.
It is also paid on the basis of household income, so if a husband has their income cut to 67% and a wife is on 100%, the husband may not be able to top up to 93%.
What's more, some people will get less than 67% of their wage under the Job Support Scheme, because it is capped at £2,100 a month.
The Job Support Scheme is only open to workers whose businesses are forced to shut completely by government, not those that can stay open but are hit by restrictions.
And the Job Support Scheme is also not open to the self-employed. They must wait until January for a three-month grant worth just 20% of their average profits, up to £1,875.
Self-employed people who are making no money can claim Universal Credit - but under current plans, a cap on their benefits called the Minimum Income Floor is due to be re-imposed from November 12.
All this means not everyone can combine the JSS with Universal Credit to the full extent "whatever happens".
Labour's welfare chief said the PM had given MPs the wrong information. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Reynolds tweeted: "The PM’s response to this was factually wrong.
"What about those with savings? What about fact JSS is capped at £2,100 a month? What about it not being open to self employed?"
The PM made his comments in an exchange with SDLP MP Colum Eastwood.
Mr Eastwood said: "By the weekend, Northern Ireland will be in an effective lockdown.
“Under the Chancellor's new furlough scheme starting in November a minimum wage full-time employee, a normal worker, would be entitled to £227 per week.
“I doubt this Prime Minister could survive on that. How under God does he expect ordinary decent workers to survive on it?"
The Prime Minister replied he was “proud” of raises to the National Living Wage.
"Whatever happens, a combination of the Job Support Scheme and Universal Credit will mean that nobody gets less than 93% of their current income," he said.
It comes after Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey struggled to answer if she could live on £5.84 an hour - two-thirds of the minimum wage for some.
In a Sky News interview, she avoided answering the question - by saying people would not have to live on that little, because they could top up with benefits.
The Tory Cabinet minister replied: "In terms of £5.84 an hour I think you're suggesting that's two-thirds of the minimum wage.
"If people have potentially that level of income coming in, then they can turn to Universal Credit. They may be eligible for that, depending on household income."
She added: "The welfare safety net will actually help top that up... And if that's your sole source of income, that will be the way to try to get support.
"It depends on the level of income that they have. £5.84 an hour is an amount that is there that can be topped up by Universal Credit."
Questioned about the Prime Minister’s claims, his Press Secretary admitted the 93% figure only applied to the lowest-paid workers.
The Press Secretary said: “The Prime Minister was referring to how Universal Credit interacts with the Job Support Scheme.
“And what that means is that Universal Credit replaces a significant proportion of the income lost. I think the figure the chancellor used on Monday was 88% but that can be higher.”
Asked to clarify that meant less than 93% for some workers, the Press Secretary said: “In terms of what the PM, said I think he was referring to how UC interacts with the JSS to top up lost earnings.”
He also admitted: “There is a cap on the amount that can be received through the Job Support Scheme.
“I think it’s the lowest-paid workers where that figure applies, just to be clear.
“Those figures I’ve given you, that is for the lowest-paid workers.”
Asked if the Prime Minister would correct the record, his Press Secretary said: “I’d have to look back at the transcript, but I think I’ve made the position clear.”
