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Monday, February 17, 2025

Westminster Hits Over 15,000 Scots With Benefit Cap

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Shocking new figures released by Westminster have revealed that 15,200 households in Scotland have had their Universal Credit capped between October 2016 and May 2023.

The data from the Department of Work and Pensions also showed that in May 2023 the weekly average cap amount was £53, an increase from February 2023 where the average weekly cap was £50.

David Linden MP, the SNP’s Social Justice spokesperson, has urged both the Tories’ and pro-Brexit Labour to commit to its abolition – or devolve social security laws to Holyrood in full so that “Humza Yousaf and the SNP Scottish Government can tackle the problem head on”.

The SNP Scottish Government are already providing £8.6million in direct support for people affected by the UK benefit cap as part of its work to tackle child poverty. 

Commenting, the SNP’s candidate in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, Cllr. Katy Loudon said: 

“The data revealed today just further emphasises the cruel nature of the benefit cap and it’s impact across families in Scotland – it is time to abolish the cap and stop taking vital support away from working families, people with disabilities and those with caring responsibilities. 

“Both the Labour party and the Tories must commit to ending the abhorrent benefit cap in their next manifesto – a failure to do so is consigning thousands of Scottish families to a life of hardship and poverty. 

“The only party truly dedicated to tackling poverty and the impact of the ongoing cost of living crisis is the SNP.

“We are the only party offering real change with independence and the chance to rid Scotland of unelected Tory government’s for good.”

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