Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 99
99
Not Addressed
Our survey on the experiences of people with social security in Scotland found that a...
Conclusion
Our survey on the experiences of people with social security in Scotland found that a majority (68%) felt that the money they received in support payments would not cover their bills for rent, food, internet, council tax and utilities. One respondent to the survey said that whilst on benefits “I’m struggling to eat properly, can’t afford to heat my home, and I’ve accumulated debt in my gas bills”.242 Written evidence from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation concurs: their research in summer 2020 showed that ‘7 in 10 families with children receiving Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit (CTC) in Scotland were already having to cut back on essentials’.243 Universal Credit and the covid-19 crisis: £20 uplift
Government response summary AI-generated
The government reiterated that Universal Credit provided a vital safety net during the pandemic and that its 'Plan for Jobs' aims to help people into work, but it did not address the observed insufficiency of current support payments to cover essential bills.
Government Response
The government responded to this report on 19 November 2021. No passage in that response could be matched to this conclusion. Read the response document ↗