Hundreds of Scots have admitted they will not be able to cope once the Tories cut £20-per week from Universal Credit.
The UK Government is ending the uplift to the benefit next month despite pleas from several Tory MPs and numerous anti-poverty charities.
A survey by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) found 74% of its users who claim Universal Credit said they would be unable to cope with the reduction in payment, while 26% said they would no longer be able to pay for essentials, and 14% said they would no longer be able to pay for food.
The UK Government increased Universal Credit at the start of the pandemic but plan to cut the payment by £20 a week in October.
Nina Ballantyne of CAS told the Record: “Increasing Universal Credit by £20 per week at the start of the pandemic was an absolute lifeline for people and a recognition that payments were too low.
“This shocking research shows that cutting the payment would have devastating consequences for lots of people, who will face impossible choices on bills and spending as a result."
Gordon Brown yesterday described the benefit cut as "completely unacceptable".
Speaking on Sky News, the former prime minister said: “We’ve got to get out of this pandemic by making sure that children are not in poverty.
“That’s why the cut in Universal Credit in a few weeks’ time is completely unacceptable, that puts six million families further into poverty."
SNP MSP Neil Gray said: “The flimsy Tory justification for cutting Universal Credit to get people into work is blown wide open by the fact that a large proportion of claimants are currently in work and are still forced to make a claim.
“This demonstrates that the cut is driven by cruel Tory austerity and does not consider the needs of the most vulnerable in our society – the people who will once again suffer at the hands of Tory cuts. 60,000 people will be pushed into poverty by this cut including 20,000 children, the UK Tory government must reverse plans to cut Universal Credit urgently.
“In Scotland we do not have the power to increase the minimum wage to the level of a real living wage or implement measures to make work secure, and only have limited powers over social security but have still introduced the Scottish Child Payment – the benefit of which will be wiped out by this callous cut to Universal Credit."
A UK Government spokesman said: “As announced by the Chancellor at the Budget, the uplift to Universal Credit was always temporary.
"It was designed to help claimants through the economic shock and financial disruption of the toughest stages of the pandemic, and it has done so.
“Universal Credit will continue to provide vital support for those both in and out of work and it’s right that the Government should focus on our Plan for Jobs, supporting people back into work and supporting those already employed to progress and earn more.
“Meanwhile, the Scottish Parliament has significant welfare powers and can top-up existing benefits, pay discretionary payments, and create entirely new benefits altogether.”
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