The SNP has called for a U-turn on Tory plans to cut benefits for NHS and Social Care workers in receipt of the Scottish Government’s £500 ‘Thank You’ payment.
In answer to a Written Parliamentary Question, Tory Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Welfare Delivery Will Quince MP admitted the UK government plans to reduce benefit payments for health and care workers receiving the Thank You payment, which could see workers lose out on hundreds of pounds as a result of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) clawing the money back from claimants.
For Universal Credit, the Tory government deducts 63p of benefit payments for every extra pound of earnings for claimants, while for those on Working Tax Credits and legacy benefits the deductions are different and can be even higher.
SNP Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Neil Gray MP (pictured) called on the Tory government to make a U-turn on the decision to impose benefit, tax and national insurance deductions so all health and care workers receive the Thank You payment in full.
Commenting, SNP Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Neil Gray MP said:
“The Tory government must U-turn on its plans to cut benefits for NHS and social care workers receiving the Scottish Government’s £500 ‘Thank You’ payment.
“This payment is in recognition of the extraordinary role frontline workers have played in tackling coronavirus – and it should be received in full without UK government deductions.
“After a decade of Tory austerity cuts, which have pushed millions of people into poverty, it is shocking that the Tory government is now planning further cuts – including a public sector pay freeze, which will leave so many frontline workers poorer and worse off.
“Instead of taking money away from our NHS and care workers, the Tory government should follow Scotland’s lead and ensure workers across the UK get the recognition they deserve.
“Scotland shouldn’t have to wait for Westminster to act.
“The whole sorry saga demonstrates, yet again, that the only way to properly protect Scotland’s interests is to become an independent country – with the full powers to make our own decisions and build a fairer country.”