Calls for increased support amid climbing in-work benefits claims

THE number of people working while claiming Universal Credit has risen significantly in the last year, sparking calls for increased support.

Figures show 71,000 people in Scotland were in work and claiming Universal Credit in September

2019.

This soared by more than 100,000 to 175,000 by September this year.

Similar trends can be seen in England and Wales, with the number of claimants in employment increasing from 739,000 to

1.8 million in England and 42,000 to 100,000 in Wales.

The latest figures, highlighted by the SNP and verified by the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, show nearly two-fifths of all claimants in Scotland, England and Wales are in employment.

SNP MSP Willie Coffey said:

“These figures show that the support given out by the Westminster Tory government is nowhere near enough to support hard-working people during the pandemic.

“The harsh realities of the furlough scheme have kicked in for many, as even though the chancellor has offered to pay 80 per cent of wages, bills are not 80% cheaper, food is not 80% cheaper and clothes are not 80% cheaper.

“This has forced people onto Universal Credit and may have led to them piling on more debt as they wait for advance payments.

“That is why the SNP has been calling for the chancellor to make the £20 uplift in Universal Credit permanent, in order to ensure no one is left worse off by this crisis.

“It’s time the Tory chancellor provided more support for people in work – ensuring that work pays and Scottish workers have the support needed to get through this pandemic.”

Those claiming Universal Credit were given a £20-a-week boost in April due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However, this is due to come to an end in April 2021.

There have been repeated calls for the uplift to be extended or made permanent.

Over the weekend, Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds called on UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak to “change course”.

Writing on social media, she said: “The government is still threatening to slash Universal Credit in the middle of a pandemic.

“Hitting those who can least afford it at a time like this is wrong and irresponsible.”

Footballer Marcus Rashford, who successfully campaigned to extend free school meal provision, is also reported to be taking an interest.

In September, dozens of charities, including Oxfam and Save the Children, wrote an open letter to Mr Sunak calling for the uplift to be made permanent.

They said: “Falling incomes and rising costs throughout the pandemic have put families under immense financial pressure, but the £20 uplift has been a lifeline that has enabled many of them to keep their heads above water and has stopped us seeing a marked surge in poverty levels.”

They said that, if the uplift ends in April next year, “this good work risks being undermined”, adding: “Modelling by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation indicates that around 16 million people will be in households facing an overnight income loss equivalent to £1,040 a year, with those on the lowest incomes and families with children being hardest hit.

“At a stroke, 700,000 more people will be pulled into poverty, including 300,000 children, and 500,000 more of those already in poverty will be plunged into deep poverty (more than 50 per cent below the poverty line).”

A UK Government spokeswoman said:“we are committed to supporting the lowest-paid families across the UK through the pandemic and beyond, which is why we have raised the National Living Wage for the lowest paid and boosted welfare support by billions, including £170 million to help families stay warm and well-fed over Christmas. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has significant devolved welfare powers and can top-up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments and create entirely new benefits altogether.”