Callous DWP sanctions reach new peak as cost of living bites

Nearly 100,000 sanctions handed out in Scotland

Callous sanctions handed out by the DWP to people on Universal Credit across Britain have reached a new peak of 6.86%, new figures have shown.

The stats released today also show that nearly 100,000 sanctions have been handed out to UC claimants in Scotland since May 2016.

Sanction rates have sharply increased since the pandemic, from 2.51% of claimants in Scotland, England and Wales being sanctioned to the new record levels.

Commenting, the SNP's Social Justice spokesperson David Linden MP said:

"The DWP's sanction regime sums up the callous approach the Tories take to social security. Instead of providing a robust safety net for millions of households, the surge in sanctions demonstrates the uncaring approach of the UK government which is pushing people further into poverty during a cost of living crisis created by the Tories.

"It is a tale of two governments for the people of Scotland as the Scottish Government's social security and employability system does not hand out sanctions and works for the people through fairness, dignity and respect. Whereas the callous UK government works against the people who need it most.

"The Scottish Government has provided support that has been described as 'game-changing' by anti-poverty charities, such as the Scottish Child Payment. But it is having one hand tied behind its back by a UK government motivated more by cuts than by supporting people.

"The only way Scotland can begin to build a fairer, more equal Scotland is by becoming an independent country."