The UK Government minister driving controversial benefits changes has triggered a fresh dispute by claiming vulnerable Scots would be put at risk by independence.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith made the claim as the Westminster coalition published its latest analysis paper on the impact of a Yes vote.
The Conservative minister – who is overseeing multibillion-pound cutbacks in the welfare system, and is the architect of the so-called “bedroom tax” – was accused of hypocrisy by the SNP.
Nationalists also pointed out that Mr Duncan Smith has not travelled north of the border to unveil the analysis report.
The Westminster paper warned that “un-picking the complex and integrated infrastructure” of the benefits system would involve greater costs, given the loss of economies.
With the ageing population leading to a bigger pension burden as well, the UK Government estimated the total bill rise would equate to about £450 per working-age person, per year, for the next two decades.
The report also questioned how the Scottish Government proposed to pay for its benefits and pensions proposals.
Mr Duncan Smith said: “Proposals by the Scottish Government would risk the wellbeing of vulnerable people who are currently supported by this system.
“On top of the ageing population – which is increasing faster in Scotland than the rest of the UK – the Scottish Government are committing to spending even more on wider welfare without saying how they’ll pay for it.”
He added: “As part of the UK, Scottish people benefit from this resilient and unified system – which delivers the same support everywhere irrespective of peaks and troughs in economies of the nations or demographic differences.”
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Welfare spending and pensions are more affordable in Scotland than the UK because they account for a smaller proportion of our tax revenues and national income.
“But now a Tory-led government that Scotland didn’t vote for is dismantling large parts of the post-war welfare state because of its right-wing ideology.
“This is social vandalism on a vast scale and shows why people are worse off when decisions about Scotland are taken at Westminster.”