Broken benefit system forces thousands of struggling Scots to rely on emergency loans
Benefits - main (DWP comment to follow) By Andy Philip Thousands of struggling Scots have been forced to rely on crisis grants because of “harsh” Tory welfare reforms, damning THOUSANDS of Scots have
new figures reveal. been forced to rely on crisis
Nearly one in 10 applications for emergency grants because of “harsh” help were made because benefit Tory welfare reforms, damning payments new were figures late. reveal.
NearlyOf a total one 165,000in 10 applications, more than app1l7ic,5a0ti0o np se of oprl em were ge stnrcuygglingwi th delays he lapfw te err t eh me caod net broev ca er us sie al roll-out of the UK’s beneefw it pu anyimvee rn satslwcr er de it last yes. tem.
OSuNtPoGf 1o6v5e,r0n0m0ent social security secretary a pp J eli ca anteioFnrse,m em or ae nth san id it is proof the UK 17,5 G0o0vwerenr em fer on mtrpefeo or pm les are“broken ”. st ru F gr ge le in mg awn ithsa died la:y“sW af et ehr ave repeatedly thewr oar ll n-oeudtt oh fatht eh eU UK’ K sn Ge ow vern men t’ s chaotic universalroll out creditof universalsystem. credit, particularly
Scottishthe unreasonablesocial security six-week wait for first secretary Jeane Freeman
payment, is having an adverse impact on said it is proof the UK
people. Government reforms are
“So let me repeat again our urgent call for “broken”.
She the said:UK Government“It’s not to listen to the real acceptablelife impactin 2017of their that policies andi mm edipeo apt el el yfihnadl th it es mrosl el-love u st, ionr risk pushing more th eh seo us site uh ao ti lodnss in thtroohu ag rhdn so hip. fau“l tI to ifstnheo it raocwcne.p table in 2017 that people
“f Ni nodri st hi team cc see pltvaebsleitn ha these thetShcrouttgishh nGo vfearunltmoefntheir are ah cacveipntg at bole ptlhu ga ta th ge ap Scottish crei as th ed avbiyng th teoU pK lug Gov Ge ornv em renn mt et ontke se optp he aotpwl from even further hardship.” people from even further hardship.”credit payments.
The scale of the problem The scale of the problem emerged emerged in Scottish latest Scottish Government welfare fund Government welfare fund figures for 2016-17. figures for 2016-17. They revealed a 14 per cent increase in
They showed a 14 per cent crisis grants to help pay for basics such increase in crisis grants to as food and heating. help pay for basics such as fooA dr aonudnh de a£t3in4g .7. million was awarded to overotnhe-oyfefairt.ems, were also
Astbrouugtg£li3n4g.7hmouillsioenhowlads awaSrindeced thoesstrcuhgegmlinegwas set upaipnpAropvrield2,0t1o3t,alling houaseqhuoalrdtserovoefrathme iyleliaorn. hou£se2h5o.4ldmsilhlioanv.e
C roe cue nic vie ls dr£e1ce3i2v.e6d million. Adam Lang, of housing 164 C,9o6u5nrceiql sue rest c se fiove rd he1lp64,965c rh ea qriut yes Sths elf to err Scotland, said l as thy e el parl,aws ti th ye 1 a16r,,8w3i 0 th 116,830 h ge raw natsswwo or rrtih ed by a 46 per gr aanntsawveo rat h ge an £7 a9v ear pap greov ed. cent rise in the number of £79 The approved.total valueThe totalof crisis grants people was saying£9.3 they were at value million.of crisis grants was risk of sleeping rough. £9.3million. The DWP said: “It’s Community care grants, which help families Community care grants, misleading to link crisis facing exceptional pressures with which help families facing grants to delays as the exceptional pressures with Scottish Government’s own figures show the vast majority of grants issued were for other reasons. We are rolling out universal credit in a gradual, safe and secure way. The majority of people are managing their budgets well.
“The Scottish Government now have significant welfare powers, including flexibility on universal credit payments.”