Latest news with #Somerville
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP Government promises not to cut Adult Disability Payment after UK benefit changes
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside". The SNP Government has promised not to cut the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) after Labour published its plans to slash welfare. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside". The UK Government published its plans to cut benefits in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon. Somerville said: 'The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government's values. We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland's Adult Disability Payment. 'The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.' The UK Government's bill will tighten the criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) as well as cut the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delay access to those aged 22 and over. The vast majority of people in Scotland on sickness benefits are on the devolved ADP rather than PIP. But the cuts mean Scotland is likely to be have less money available. Somerville added: "The UK Government's proposed reforms will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. "These plans have yet to be passed at Westminster, so there is still time for the UK Government to step back from this damaging policy and I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals. 'The UK Government's own analysis highlights how the proposals will push 250,000 more people across the UK into poverty - including 50,000 children. "With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government's Child Poverty Taskforce. 'That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people's support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year." The Labour Government is set for a stand-off with its own MPs over the cuts, with many opposing them. UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 'Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. 'This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. 'This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.'
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
Pensioners in Scotland to be better off than rest of UK
First Minister John Swinney said earlier this week no pensioner in Scotland would receive less in their Winter Fuel Payment than they would south of the Border after Labour announced a U-turn last week that every pensioner household with an income under £35,000 would receive a payment. The UK Government said that all people born before 22 September 1959 would receive £200, and £300 if they are in a household with someone over 80. After suggesting the Scottish Government would match the payment, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has announced it is set to go further and give Scottish pensioners more money. All pensioners in Scotland with an income less than £35,000 will receive either £203.40 or £305.10, depending on their age. READ MORE: Stephen Flynn clashes with Labour MP in BBC interview: 'Don't talk over me' Around 720,000 pensioners in Scotland are expected to receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. Following the UK Government's initial decision to cut the universal benefit, the Scottish Government delayed its plans for the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, but in December it announced pensioners north of the Border would receive at least £100 every year. However, this commitment has now been increased on the back of the latest UK Government U-turn. Somerville said: 'The UK Government's decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners, and their recent U-turn is welcome, if belated. (Image: Jane Barlow) 'Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. 'We will bring forward regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age. 'We are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system. READ MORE: Watch as journalist Peter Oborne calls out BBC double standards over Gaza 'The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action. 'This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment.' Somerville told the Sunday National that Scottish Secretary Ian Murray "didn't understand the system" of devolution after he attempted to defend not consulting the Scottish Government about the recent changes to the Winter Fuel Payment. He suggested Westminster would 'never' consult devolved governments on devolved policy. But Somerville said Murray "doesn't seem to understand the system", as she laid out how the Labour Government had made it "almost impossible" for the Scottish Government to know how to proceed with its own devolved winter payment.
STV News
2 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Thousands of Scottish pensioners to receive up to £305 in winter heating support
More than 720,000 pensioners across Scotland are set to receive increased winter heating payments this year, with households getting up to £305. Pension Age Winter Heating Payments will be made to all pensioner households with an income below £35,000 – £203.40 for most, rising to £305.10 for those where someone is aged 80 or over. The move, announced by social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville, comes after the UK Government reversed cuts to winter fuel payments. In response, the Scottish Government has withdrawn planned emergency regulations that were aimed at shielding pensioners from those reductions. Somerville said the payments will offer vital support during the colder months and ensure Scottish pensioners are better off compared to those elsewhere in the UK. Talks are also under way with the UK Government about recovering payments from higher-income pensioners through the tax system, though no additional action will be required from recipients. Somerville said: 'The UK Government's decision to cut the Winter Fuel Payment last winter was a betrayal of millions of pensioners, and their recent U-turn is welcome if belated. 'Following careful consideration of the options available, the Scottish Government will mirror the approach taken by the UK Government. 'We will bring forward regulations to ensure that, from this winter onwards, all pensioners will receive either £203.40 or £305.10 per household, depending on age. 'We are in discussion with the UK Government to extend the proposed arrangements in England and Wales to recover payments from those pensioners with an individual income of more than £35,000 through the tax system. 'The intention is that the payment will be recovered automatically, and pensioners will not need to register with HMRC for this or take any further action. 'This approach ensures a higher level of support which those most in need will receive. Over 720,000 Scottish pensioners are estimated to benefit from the higher payment.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Record
Senior SNP minister refuses to rule out benefit cuts in Scotland after UK welfare changes
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville could not confirm whether Scots on disability benefits would have their payments reduced. A senior SNP minister has refused to rule out benefit cuts in Scotland as the UK Government publishes its plans to slash welfare today. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville could not confirm whether Scots on disability benefits would have their payments reduced. The UK Government introduces a bill on cutting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) to the House of Commons this afternoon. Although most Scots are on the devolved Adult Disability Payment (ADP) rather than PIP, the cuts are likely to mean Scotland has less money for welfare. When asked what impact would it have on the Scottish Government's budget, Somerville told BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are very concerned about the UK Government's proposals... "While the UK Government may be intending to make those decisions affecting people in the rest of the UK, we will have to look very carefully at that and see the details of that. "I'll be responding later today about what the Scottish Government can do. "But what I want to do today is reassure disabled people that we will not abandon them in the same way that the UK Government appears to be doing." When asked if she would have to reduce ADP, Somerville replied: "I want to see the details because I have still not given up hope that the UK Government will see sense and see the moral obligation of a government to actually be there to protect disabled people, to support disabled people and their carers." When pressed further, Somerville said: "I'll see what the details are later on today as the UK Government does not give us any details on these things before they make these proposals public. "We have seen some signs of some softening over the weekend, although not a great d e al. But I intend to make our decisions public later today once I see the details of it. "Because I do not want people in Scotland to be concerned, and worried, and anxious about what will happen to them, so we will respond very quickly to this." When asked if she could rule out cuts, Somerville replied: "Let's see the details of it. I really hope the UK Government will change track on this." A significantly higher rate of people are on disability benefits in Scotland than south of the border.
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Government recognises financial challenge in mitigating two-child cap
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said applications will open for mitigation of the welfare policy on March 2, with payments being made 'as soon as possible' afterwards – meaning it will likely take place just ahead of the Scottish Parliament election. She said the move will lift 20,000 children out of relative poverty, according to Scottish Government estimates. However the minister also told MSPs she is 'deeply disappointed' that Scotland's interim child poverty targets have not been met, saying there is no single reason for them being missed. Plans to mitigate the two-child cap were first announced last year but First Minister John Swinney said his Government needed time to set up the system. Introduced under the Conservatives, the two-child cap limits benefits in most cases to the first two children born after April 2017. Labour has cited fiscal constraints for keeping the cap, but in May the Prime Minister said he will be 'looking at all options' to tackle child poverty. Ms Somerville said Scotland cannot wait for a decision at Westminster and implementing it in March – 15 months after the initial announcement – will be the fastest a new social security has even been introduced in Scotland. Following an announcement on Tuesday morning, Ms Somerville addressed MSPs on the Government's 'tackling child poverty delivery plan'. She said it is 'deeply disappointing' that interim child poverty targets have not been met, but rates are nevertheless coming down, and she pledged to 'build on that progress' ahead of 2030 targets. Conservative MSP Liz Smith pressed the minister on how the mitigation policy will be funded, saying the Scottish Fiscal Commission (SFC) has noted a 'widening gap' between the Scottish Government's welfare spending and its funding. She said: 'Can I ask where the other cuts will be made to pay for that mitigation?' Ms Somerville said her Government is 'resolute' in tackling economic inactivity, saying people should not be punished for having children. Decisions from the UK Government have pushed more people into poverty, she claimed. Liz Smith asked how the policy would be paid for (Andrew Milligan/PA) Discussing the SFC's forecasts, she said: 'Those are choices that we have taken – to ensure that we are protecting disabled people and children. 'Because we need to protect them from the effects of poverty. 'Those are decisions which will obviously be set out in the work that is being taken forward by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance as we look to the sustainability of our finances. 'We recognise that challenge.' She said the 'easiest way to deal with that challenge' would be for the UK Government to scrap the two-child cap and proposals to cut disabled benefits. Scottish Labour's Paul O'Kane said: 'For all the rhetoric we've had from the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary after 18 years in office, relative child poverty after housing costs has only fallen by 1%. 'When the Cabinet Secretary says rates are broadly stable, what she means is that the dial hasn't shifted.' The Scottish Fiscal Commission said the mitigation will cost around £150 million next year, before rising to nearly £200 million by the end of the decade. Ms Somerville said around 43,000 children would benefit initially, rising to 50,000 by the end of the decade. In March, the Institute for Fiscal Studies warned the policy could harm incentives to work because some of the lowest-paid workers could earn more on welfare than in employment. The move has been welcomed by anti-poverty charities, who have urged the UK Government to scrap the cap, with the Child Poverty Action Group saying the move would lift 350,000 children across the UK out of poverty.
