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Motion · S5M-15741 · 6 Feb 2019

Impact of Universal Credit

Lodged by Maureen Watt Standard Motion 23 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament notes with concern the Citizens Advice Bureau’s report, Managing Money on Universal Credit, which has found that half of 190,000 claimants helped by the charity are struggling to keep a roof over their heads; understands that debt problems are now more common than under the previous system, that nearly half of claimants either have no money left after essential living costs or spend more than they take in, and that more than 80% of claimants also hold priority debt such as council tax, rent arrears, mortgage payments and energy bills; further understands that a key factor in the increase of debt is the five-week wait for the first payment, with 60% of applicants having to apply for an advance payment or look elsewhere for short-term relief; joins the Citizens Advice Bureau in its call for the UK Government to reform Universal Credit to protect people from poverty, and, ideally, calls on the UK Government to fully devolve welfare to the Scottish Parliament to ensure that the damaging impact of its policies on vulnerable people can be mitigated.

Supporters (23)

Source: the Scottish Parliament motions and amendments record.