New Report: Universal Credit deductions for households with children by Scottish local authority

Aberlour Children’s Charity has published a new report which reveals that low-income families are facing high levels of debt to public bodies. The report shows that more than half of families (55%) with children in Scotland receiving Universal Credit are having their incomes reduced by the DWP to pay off these debts.

New research commissioned by the charity highlights a worrying proportion of the poorest families’ monthly income being deducted to cover debts to public bodies. This includes paying back Universal Credit advance payments, as well as ‘third party deductions’ on behalf of local authorities and other public bodies for rent arrears, service charges and council tax payments.