Scots have lost out on more than £10million in a month in Universal Credit payments due to a 'poverty tax', official figures reveal
Scots have lost out on more than £10million in a month in Universal Credit payments due to a "poverty tax", official figures reveal.
Almost half of the money taken away was to repay upfront loans that households are forced to take out from the Department for Work and Pensions when waiting five weeks for their first Universal Credit payment.Claimants also lost money due to third party deductions. This is when money is taken off Universal Credit to pay off debts for other things including utilities, council tax, child maintenance, rent, service charges and court fines.
Good Food Scotland has set up 'larders' in different areas of Glasgow. These aim to ease the cost of living crisis by running membership food shops which sell food at discount rates. The seats of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath and Motherwell and Wishaw had £301,000 deducted from 5,100 and 5,000 people each.
The Daily Record revealed last year that half of households in Scotland were relying on Universal Credit had suffered deductions in their benefit payments. "We must strike the right balance between ensuring those protections are in place and allowing claimants to retain as much of their award as possible for day-to-day needs.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Universal Credit claimants could face 12-month wait over system faultThe DWP was found to only be correcting state pension records when they reach the eligible age
Read more »
Universal Credit payments to change in Spring as five Bank Holidays announcedThe full list of dates for anybody claiming Universal Credit, State Pension and Benefits in Spring as an additional Bank Holiday is added
Read more »
Two huge changes for millions on Universal Credit that could save you £100sTHE government is making two huge changes for millions of Universal Credit claimants. Under new plans, parents claiming the benefit could save hundreds of pounds on childcare costs. During the Spri…
Read more »
Scots youngsters - and their Scotties - win prizes at their first ever CruftsTwo Scots youngsters are celebrating winning prizes at their first Crufts.
Read more »
Scots woman's lucky escape as motor left wrecked after 'scary' crash on icy roadMaria Smith was driving from her home in Edinburgh to Stirling when the incident happpened on Thursday, March 9.
Read more »
Abandoned Scots 'ghost' village left completely frozen in timeCraigiehall near Edinburgh served as a headquarters for the British army up until 2015.
Read more »