The variety of individuals in West Dunbartonshire having their advantages sanctioned has doubled since earlier than the pandemic.
Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures present 164 individuals on Common Credit score (UC) throughout the world had been carrying a sanction in February. That was 4.7 p.c of claimants, and up from 82 (three p.c) in the identical month of 2020, pre-pandemic.
Causes for individuals having their advantages lowered embody not attending a work-related interview, failing to begin a brand new function, or refusing a job supply.
The size and severity of the punishment will depend on the explanation for it being imposed and whether or not somebody has been penalised earlier than.
The cuts had been largely halted within the early levels of the pandemic as job centres shut their doorways and the UK Authorities targeted on coping with hovering demand from new claimants. Nonetheless, the variety of individuals throughout Britain seeing their UC declare lowered began rising once more final summer time and has now hit document ranges.
In Scotland, the sharpest improve in UC sanctions was in Perth and Kinross, the place the quantity greater than quadrupled from 42 to 171, or 5.6 p.c of those that may have them utilized.
UK Authorities ministers just lately introduced new guidelines for some jobseekers on UC which means they must seek for jobs exterior their chosen discipline from the fourth week of their declare, as an alternative of after three months, and could be punished for failing to.
The modifications come as labour market shortages trigger issues for numerous industries such because the aviation sector, which has struggled to fulfill demand from travellers as Covid restrictions ease.
The Workplace for Nationwide Statistics additionally just lately revealed there have been extra job vacancies than unemployed individuals within the UK for the primary time on document earlier this yr.
A DWP spokesperson mentioned: “We perceive that individuals are scuffling with rising costs which is why we've got acted to guard the eight million most weak British households via no less than £1,200 of direct funds this yr.
“Sanction ranges are proportionate to our bigger pandemic caseload and individuals are solely sanctioned in the event that they fail, with out good purpose, to fulfill the circumstances they agreed to. Sanctions could be resolved by re-engaging with the Jobcentre and attending the subsequent appointment.”