Tens of thousands of individuals, couples and families in Scotland’s coalfield communities will be negatively impacted by cuts in Universal Credit, research commissioned by The Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) has found.

To mark the end of ‘Challenge Poverty Week’, CRT has commissioned a report to understand the impact of benefit changes in Scotland’s mining communities.

The detailed report provides a clear assessment of the removal of the top-up to Universal Credit and its potential impact.

Delivered by Social Value Lab (SVL) the report provides a detailed picture of socio-economic conditions and demographic trends in the Scottish coalfield areas.

It found that 39,000 individuals, couples and families in coalfield communities and least 27,000 children living in coalfield communities will be affected by the cuts in Universal Credit.

Coalfield communities have one third more Universal Credit recipients than Scotland’s average and and the reduction will mean that Coalfield community families will lose £40million per year.

The report also showed that 17,000 coalfield communities’ families with children will see a reduction in their Universal Credit.

Nicky Wilson, Scottish Trustee for CRT said: “Unfortunately, we’re marking this year’s Challenge Poverty Week with more bad news that is likely to hit the coalfield communities the hardest.

“After a turbulent few years following the Covid-19 pandemic, we’ve found that people are still trying to get back on their feet with this only exacerbating issues further.

“We will continue to work closely with the former mining communities during these difficult times and urge ministers to reconsider this decision.”