The SNP has called on the UK Government to scrap its policy which excludes people who are subject to immigration control from accessing vital benefits or working.
The no recourse to public funds (NRPF) policy excludes people who are subject to immigration control from accessing vital welfare support including Universal Credit and housing assistance.
This policy includes people without settled status, immigrants, and asylum seekers and impacts almost 1.4 million people and around 175,000 children across the UK.
These households will receive no UK Government help with soaring energy bills from April due to their immigration status, after the Chancellor axed the £400 universal energy rebate.
The UK Government will still provide £900 in support to people receiving means-tested benefits but households that have ‘no recourse to public funds’ (NRPF) are not included. SNP Home Affairs spokesperson Alison Thewliss urged the UK government to get rid of the policy for good.
Thewliss said: "The Tories' no recourse to public funds policy is punishing some of the most vulnerable people in our society by excluding them from working or accessing vital welfare support during a cost-of-living crisis. It must be scrapped.
“Getting rid of the cruel policy is now particularly important given the Energy Bills Support Scheme could be scrapped in April, with only those on means-tested benefits eligible for energy bill support going forward. NRPF households were eligible for this £400 rebate but with it being scrapped, and unable to access welfare support, they will face an average increase in energy costs of £900 a year.
"Tory ministers should be doing all they can to support people through this crisis, especially those who need it most. Instead, they are exacerbating it by remaining wedded to poverty-inducing policies such as NRPF.
“Many who are impacted by NRPF rules have lived, worked and contributed to British society for years and they deserve better. And so does Scotland. Independence is the only way we can bring an end to these cruel policies and create a fairer society in Scotland.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
