The Tory Government has been accused of “failing young people” over a surge in benefits sanctions.
Thousands of 18 to 24 year olds had their Universal Credit hit amid concerns the punishment system is too harsh.
SNP MSP Natalie Don said: “These latest sanctions stats are appalling but sadly not shocking as they highlight a Westminster government we know to be profoundly failing – failing young people, failing struggling households and failing to take any meaningful action to help the people that need it most through a Tory cost of living crisis."
The DWP has faced intense pressure in recent years over a sanctions regime that can see vulnerable people lose social security money.
New figures commissioned by the SNP show that in August 2019 1,398 young people were under sanction - 3.5 per cent of all cases.
Lockdown eased pressure on benefits claimants but figures from August this year show the sanctions total had surged to 2,544, 4.3 per cent of cases.
Don said: “It is no coincidence that these shameful figures come within days of the news that foodbank use has hit record highs and years of Westminster cuts have led to families experiencing the biggest deterioration in living standards in ten years – people across Scotland are being forced to suffer the brutal impact of Tory policies and governments that Scotland didn’t vote for.”
As Chancellor, Rishi Sunak was blasted by anti-poverty campaigners for slashing Universal Credit by £20 a week after he initially increased it by the same amount.
Sunak became Prime Minister in October and critics fear he may be eyeing up social security for cuts. When Sunak first stood for the Tory leadership earlier this year, he mounted an attack on benefits.
“I strongly believe that part of the answer to this problem is being much tougher on our welfare system to get people off benefits and into work,” he said.
“Right now, there are more people claiming unemployment benefit than there are job vacancies in the economy. Just think about that for a second. And that is happening under a Conservative government. That is clearly not right, something has gone wrong.”
He added: “If there are hours to do, if there is a job going, people should have to take the job as opposed to just being able to stay on benefits and that is the change that I want to bring because I do think that is the right thing, it is the Conservative thing.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “People are only sanctioned if they fail, without good reason, to meet the conditions they agree, and emphasis is placed on protecting vulnerable claimants.
“Our priority is to help people to find and stay in work and the latest figures show the majority of sanctions were applied due to claimants failing to attend mandatory appointments with their Work Coach.
“If a claimant disagrees with a sanction, they can ask for this to be reconsidered and can appeal to an independent tribunal.”
To sign up to the Daily Record Politics newsletter, click here.
