Scottish Social Security Committee joins calls for UK Government to retain temporary uplift to universal credit and working tax credit and extend increase to legacy benefits

Pre-budget scrutiny report also calls on Scottish Government to look at whether roll-out of Scottish Child Payment for older children could be speeded up

The Scottish Parliament's Social Security Committee has joined calls for the UK Government to retain the temporary uplift to universal credit and and working tax credit, and extend the increase to legacy benefits.

As part of the Scottish budget scrutiny process, Convener of the Scottish Social Security Committee Bob Doris has written to Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People Shirley-Anne Somerville setting out the Committee's observations and recommendations ahead of the Scottish Government's 2021-2022 budget.

Noting that, since the beginning of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, an additional 213,000 people in Scotland have been supported by universal credit, Mr Doris welcomes the UK Government's decision to provide a temporary 12-month uplift of £20 per week for universal credit and working tax credit claimants.

However, highlighting that the uplift is due to end in March 2021, and expressing concern that only a very small number of people aged 16 and 17 who have left school are eligible for universal credit, Mr Doris says that the Committee -

'Joins calls for the UK Government to retain the £20 increase to the standard allowance in universal credit and working tax credits, apply this uplift to legacy benefits and review the policy that 16- and 17-year olds are not usually eligible to claim universal credit.'

In addition, Mr Doris sets out a number of recommendations for the Scottish Government's consideration, including that it should -

• look at whether the intended uprating of the Scottish Child Payment in April 2021 could be brought forward, and what could be done to make payments for children aged 6-16 (currently due to be rolled out by the end of 2022) more quickly;
• work with COSLA to consider resourcing for the administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund with the proviso that, if any additional funds are made available, it should be on the understanding that councils ensure people are aware there are options other than online applications; and
• consider how best to assist with housing costs, including looking at the take-up of discretionary housing payments and any patterns of need being seen by local authorities that cannot currently be met.

Mr Doris' letter to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People is available from parliament.scot