Financial help provided to residents in Perth and Kinross from the UK Government during the cost of living crisis has been praised by Murdo Fraser MSP.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of measures in November last year worth £26 billion to support people to deal with the cost of living pressures during the 2023/24 financial year.
The package includes Cost of Living Payments (referred to as ‘additional payments’) in the Social Security (Additional Payments (No 2) Bill of up to £900 for those who are eligible for the means-tested benefits, with a separate £300 payment being made to pensioners and a £150 payment to individuals who are in receipt of disability benefits.
Data released by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that 14,500 residents in Perth and Kinross are eligible for the means-tested payment, with 14,400 individuals being eligible for the disability payment.
The details also reveal that 10,500 residents living in the Parliament Constituency Perth and North Perthshire were eligible for the means-tested payment, with 10,100 individuals being eligible for the disability payment.
Commenting, Murdo Fraser MSP said: “The financial help given to thousands of people in Perth and Kinross by the UK Government cannot be underestimated and tends to be conveniently forgotten by the SNP Government. The cost of living crisis affects us all, with food prices rising as well as energy costs, so it has been an extremely difficult time for many people, particularly those on the likes of disability benefits.
“The figures released by the DWP are unequivocal, with an estimated 6.7 million individuals receiving the disability cost of living payments - 639,000 of this total being residents living in Scotland. Likewise, the estimated number of those eligible in the UK for the means-tested benefit is nearly 8.1 million, with 686,000 people in Scotland being eligible for it.”
Mr Fraser continued: “The UK Government also saved some households £1,300 on their energy bills during the winter through the Energy Price Guarantee and Energy Bill Support Scheme. Overall, many thousands of residents in Perth and Kinross have been supported by the UK Government during these difficult times and it is good to see the broad shoulders of the UK Government stepping in to help people in Scotland.”
