The British authorities are under fire for taking a “Scrooge-like approach” to the jobless and disabled people on Christmas Eve.

According to a report by the Independent, the vulnerable people could be stripped of their benefits under a new sanctions regime introduced by the Tory government.

The move, described as hardening of the government’s attitude to welfare, would see those who miss a job center appointment, interview or work capability assessment in the immediate run-up to the holidays learn about the bad news on Christmas Eve itself.

But apparently, this is not the first time that such thing happens.

The SNP has claimed that this will be only the second year the approach has been taken, after a series of unwritten “special operations”

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already denied the allegation.

But the SNP insists the concerns were raised by DWP staff, after they told the party that they were made to call people up with bad news on Christmas Eve for the first time last year.

A Scottish National Party politician and the Member of Parliament (MP) for Livingston has already expressed her concerns over the controversial move, calling it a “Scrooge-like approach”.

“I have been advised that last year it caused considerable distress to both staff who were forced to implement sanctions at this time of year and indeed claimants, who received the news,” Hannah Bardell wrote in a letter to The Department for Work and Pensions.

It’s not immediately clear how many claimants face the sanctions in during the festive period.

However, according to the figures on DWP’s website, last December, sanctions were issued to 34,958 people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and 3,274 seeking ESA – disability benefits.

Benefit cuts

Meanwhile, the Department for Work and Pensions has acknowledged that British workers will see cash losses to their in-work benefits under the new universal credit system.

"The British government decision is going to affect negatively most people just before the Christmas. My own view is that many of these problems can be resolved by discussion but there is no will to do so,” a London-based analyst Rodney Shakespeare told Press TV.

He went on saying that unlike what is said publicly, the Tory and Labour parties both have the same goals and policies when it comes to the current austerity package. Shakespeare noted that the policies particularly those connected with the public welfare are not constructive.

According to the DWP, the British workers should make up for the loss by working an extra 200 hours a year.

The Department for Work and Pensions argues that people on universal credit will not be worse off because of changes.

However, Owen Smith, the shadow work and pensions secretary accused the DWP “of trying to shift the blame for the cuts on to the victims.”

“Working families set to lose thousands of pound next year because of cuts to universal credit will be livid at the Tories’ offhand suggestion that they just work more hours,” he noted.

“It’s the measure of Iain Duncan Smith that he is trying to shift the blame for the cuts on to the victims. His Christmas message is work an extra 200 hours a year and you’ll be no worse off.