Press release: New report - UK welfare system failing as cost of living crisis rumbles on

Only independence will deliver strong social security net

A new report by the Resolution Foundation has revealed that the UK government's welfare safety net is failing to fulfil the task it was created to do - protect the poorest and those who find themselves out of work.

The new data, which shows that financial support for people in the UK has not risen, comes as the Tory-made cost-of-living crisis continues.

Rising welfare spending has not meant rising income support. Unemployment benefit is about to fall to its lowest real-terms value in 30 years this April, and its lowest ever level relative to earnings... pic.twitter.com/A90Q9DQcdL

— Resolution Foundation (@resfoundation) January 19, 2022

Commenting, SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson, David Linden MP, said:

"SNP calls for improvements for a welfare system that meet the needs of people have been ignored by the Westminster government. It is now crystal clear that the only way to deliver a real safety net for people in Scotland is to become independent.

"This report lays bare that under successive Westminster governments, the UK welfare system no longer does what it’s supposed to do - provide a safety net for people when circumstances suddenly change.

"On top of this, the UK government has failed to increase the minimum wage to a Real Living Wage, meaning that as the cost of living rises, more and more families have less and less to live on.

"This is in stark contrast to the action being taken by the Scottish Government using its limited powers to support people, such as affordable housing, free prescriptions and dental care, free higher education and increased hours of free childcare. This is as well as doubling the Scottish Child Payment and other additional social security payments, and meaningful strategies to get people back into work where possible."