English: One way that the Welsh Government could mitigate the effects of the universal credit cut is to maintain the flexibility of the discretionary assistance fund - the national fund that provides small funding grants for vital living costs and support for one to live independently. The scheme was changed at the beginning of the pandemic to enable more people to claim financial assistance if they faced exceptional hardship as a result of lockdowns, self-isolation, or lost income as a result of other restrictions imposed. The number of grants awarded through the DAF has decreased dramatically recently because of the Welsh Government's decision to get rid of the flexibility that made it easier for people to receive that support. The DAF is a vital source of support for thousands of families, and considering the impact of the cut to universal credit and the entire context that I have outlined this afternoon, we encourage the Welsh Government to continue with that additional flexibility to access the fund beyond the end of September, and we ask Members from all parties to support that call. I referred earlier to the fact that I am a new Member of this Senedd. The most important thing that I have learned to date is that hearing the voice of the people who are impacted by policy is vital, and ignoring their experience is unforgivable. The numerous reports that have been published on the disastrous impact of the cut to universal credit quote a number of people who will have to make such impossible decisions. In one by Save the Children Cymru, Stacey, a mother from Newport, said that the cut is going to impact her ability to pay her debts, that she is concerned how, as the winter approaches, she'll have to cut down on food to pay for heating, and we know that energy prices are increasing. Her daughter has just started gymnastics lessons. They are £5 a go, and she doesn't know whether she'll be able to continue with those. I call upon all of you to support our motion and, by doing so, support families such as Stacey's. Thank you.
Welsh: Un ffordd y gall Llywodraeth Cymru liniaru effaith y credyd cynhwysol yw cynnal hyblygrwydd y gronfa cymorth dewisol, y DAF - y cynllun cymorth lles cenedlaethol sy'n darparu grant arian bach ar gyfer costau byw hanfodol, a chefnogaeth i ganiatáu i rywun fyw'n annibynnol. Fe newidiwyd y cynllun ar ddechrau'r pandemig i ganiatáu i fwy o bobl hawlio cymorth ariannol os oeddent yn wynebu caledi eithriadol o ganlyniad i gyfyngiadau clo, hunanynysu neu golli incwm oherwydd y cyfyngiadau. Mae nifer y grantiau a ddyfarnwyd drwy'r DAF wedi gostwng yn ddramatig yn ddiweddar oherwydd penderfyniad Llywodraeth Cymru i gael gwared ar yr hyblygrwydd oedd yn ei gwneud hi'n haws i bobl gael cefnogaeth. Mae'r DAF yn ffynhonnell gymorth hanfodol i filoedd o deuluoedd, ac o ystyried effaith y toriad mewn credyd cynhwysol a'r holl gyd-destun rwyf wedi ei amlinellu y prynhawn yma, rydym yn annog Llywodraeth Cymru i barhau â'r hyblygrwydd ychwanegol ar gyfer cyrchu'r gronfa y tu hwnt i ddiwedd mis Medi ac yn gofyn i Aelodau o bob plaid i gefnogi'r alwad honno. Cyfeiriais i yn gynharach at y ffaith fy mod yn Aelod newydd o'r Senedd yma. Y peth pwysicaf i fi ddysgu hyd yma yw bod clywed llais y bobl sy'n cael eu heffeithio gan bolisi yn gwbl allweddol a bod anwybyddu eu profiad yn gwbl anfaddeuol. Mae'r adroddiadau niferus sydd wedi eu cyhoeddi ar effaith drychinebus y toriad i gredyd cynhwysol yn dyfynnu nifer o bobl fydd yn gorfod gwneud penderfyniadau mor amhosib. Mewn un gan Achub y Plant Cymru, meddai Stacey, mam o Gasnewydd, fod y toriad yn mynd i effeithio ar ei gallu i dalu ei dyledion, ei bod yn pryderu sut, wrth i'r gaeaf nesáu, y byddai'n gorfod cwtogi ar fwyd er mwyn talu am wres, ac rŷn ni'n gwybod bod prisiau ynni yn cynyddu. Mae ei merch newydd ddechrau gwersi gymnasteg. Maen nhw'n £5 y tro. Meddai, 'Dwi ddim yn siŵr y bydd modd iddi barhau.' Rwy'n erfyn ar bob Aelod i gefnogi ein cynnig a thrwy hynny gefnogi teuluoedd fel un Stacey. Diolch.