An SNP MP has questioned the competency of the UK welfare system after compensation payments to claimants nearly doubled since 2018.
Figures obtained by David Linden, the party's social justice spokesman, found the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) paid out slightly over £580,000 in consolatory payments for gross inconvenience in the first nine months of 2022 - nearly double the roughly £320,000 paid out in the whole of 2018.
It is also an increase on the £552,000 given out the previous year. The DWP has now paid out more than £2 million in compensation over the last five years.
Linden said that the figures were "hugely concerning" and that they show that "Brexit Britain can no longer run a competent social security system."
The DWP can make a consolation payment to a claimant for when gross inconvenience has been caused.
It may give out compensation after it has given wrong advice, staff have acted rudely, the department has made mistakes or caused delays.
It paid out £323,446.33 in 2018. This rose to £355,484.37 in 2019, but fell to £342,901.82 in 2020.
The next year, 2021, saw a huge increase with £551,513.69 paid out. This figure was surpassed in the first nine months of 2022 with £580,016.18 distributed.
Linden said that he expected the problem to keep getting worse under the Conservative government.
He said: “Whether it’s sanctions, state pension underpayments or botched work capability assessments, we all know that the UK’s social security net is bursting to the point of being beyond repair.
“The figures I’ve uncovered show that DWP pay outs for gross inconvenience have nearly doubled in the last five years, which is hugely concerning.
"Tory Ministers have presided over 13 years of austerity which has led to JobCentre cuts and DWP staff left feeling burned out and overworked.
"Add to that the ideological dismantling of the welfare state and it’s little wonder that foodbank usage is sky rocketing because Brexit Britain can no longer run a competent social security system.
“For so long as the vast majority of social security powers remain in the hands of a Tory Government Scotland didn’t vote for, then gross inconvenience is clearly going to get worse and worse.
"With the full powers of Scottish independence, we will have a social security which is fit for purpose, person-centred and underpinned with dignity and human rights.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “DWP aims to provide a good level of service to its customers but when on occasion we fall short of those high standards, we endeavour to put things right as quickly as possible.
“DWP has made significant improvements to the complaints process, making it easier for our customers and ensuring compensation is rightly awarded where appropriate. We recognise the increase in the amount of consolatory payments paid is a reflection of the improved process.”
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