Local authorities in Scotland provided emergency cash to over 45,500 households struggling with the impact of the bedroom tax, according to new figures.
The figures show that from April to November last year, £15.4m of Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) were made to households in Scotland. This is a fourfold increase compared to the same period the year before.
Deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: 'There is no doubt that people in Scotland are paying a heavy price for Westminster decisions. But these figures show that by working closely with our local authority partners we have been able to provide support for over 45,500 households in Scotland.
'And we will continue to do all we can to help. However, only an independent Scottish Parliament will give us the powers we need to scrap the Bedroom Tax.
'Scotland has a choice of two futures – one in which Scotland continues to pay the price of Westminster’s welfare reforms, or one in which we have the powers to design a welfare system that suits our needs.'
