More than half of Universal Credit claimants in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency have been severely impacted by deductions on the benefit.
Statistics from November last year reveal that 4,700 households had on average £57 cut from their Universal Credit entitlement, according to research that was published last week.
Additionally, approximately 180,000 Scottish households saw their Universal Credit slashed by the DWP, totalling around £10 million.
READ MORE — Smarties fans rejoice over 'amazing' new flavour of chocolate confectionary
As reported by the Daily Record, £271,000 was lost in the Rutherglen Westminster constituency.
These deductions are in fact the DWP taking back money they issued to cover the five-week waiting period at the start of each new Universal Credit claim.
The cuts have been criticised by Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey, who said they were akin to a "poverty tax".
Speaking to Lanarkshire Live, she said: “These figures are truly startling and show just how damaging elements of the Universal Credit system can be.
“Turning the advance payments into non-repayable grants instead of keeping them as loans once people have been determined as eligible for Universal Credit would help people across Rutherglen and Cambuslang who are impacted by these harsh clawbacks.
“However, the UK Government is failing to act."
She continued: “The Rutherglen and Hamilton West Westminster constituency is in the top ten constituencies hardest hit in Scotland – with 4700 households, many of whom may be the most vulnerable people in our communities, losing an average of £57.
“At a time when the Tory Government is soon to hike National Insurance and with energy bills and living costs rising, this is essentially a poverty tax – taking money out of the pockets of those most in need of support.”
