Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP says Universal Credit Rethink Needed

The SNP has today called on Work and Pensions Secretary Stephen Crabb to “rethink the Universal Credit debacle” in light of recent research showing how watered down the Tories’ new flagship benefit has become. A Children’s Society report found that 100,000 disabled children who currently receive support through Disability Living Allowance will have their support halved under the new Universal Credit.  And last week’s devastating report from the Resolution Foundation found that under Universal Credit, half a million working families would be significantly worse off, even with tax allowances and the increase in the minimum wage. With responsibility over disability benefits being devolved to the Scottish Parliament, the SNP will create a Scottish Social Security Agency which rejects the punitive approach taken by the UK Government - putting respect and dignity at the heart of Scottish welfare.
 
Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP, the SNP’s spokesperson on Social Justice and Welfare, said:“Disabled children and low-income working families should not be made to pay for the Tories’ austerity and tax cuts for the rich – Stephen Crabb must urgently look at fairer alternatives.“Even with tax allowances and an increase to the minimum wage, half a million working families will actually be significantly worse off under Universal Credit – a truly devastating blow to the UK government’s flagship benefit.“It is clear that the UK government needs to completely rethink the Universal Credit debacle and it is time for Stephen Crabb to look again at the impact these reforms will have on disabled children and low-income working families.”