Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee 06 May 2025
Thank you for that really important question. We must remember that everything regarding social security benefits goes through robust equality impact assessments, which consider intersectionality across the board to ensure that we get the intended outcomes.
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 established a legal duty on the Scottish Government to promote take-up of devolved entitlements. Unlike the UK Government, which does not have an equivalent strategy, the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland have made clear commitments, in our benefit take-up strategy, to support access to social security. We try to ensure that there is as much uptake as possible, and we raise awareness of people’s entitlements. That includes initiatives such as access to independent advocacy, support for disabled people, co-location of Social Security Scotland local delivery services and community spaces and targeting the marketing of devolved payments to ensure that they are accessible and available to different communities in different locations, because we know that some people will have physical barriers to getting help.
Our disability benefits were designed with our clients. That includes the adult disability payment application process, which was designed with disabled people to ensure that it is as clear and straightforward as possible. For example, no assessments for the adult disability payment are carried out by a private sector provider. Instead, consultations are delivered by Social Security Scotland when required. The consultation is an objective discussion between the client and a practitioner, and it is based on trust. It does not include a formal dehumanising functional examination in that sense.
An independent review of the adult disability payment is under way, and the final report will be published in July 2025. The chair will make recommendations for improvements to ensure that benefits continue to meet the needs of disabled people, as set out in the principles of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.
We also try to make the consultation as accessible and inclusive as possible. Social Security Scotland take a multichannel approach, which includes online availability, telephone calls, web chats and face-to-face meetings to ensure that those who choose not to or cannot use digital methods can access services.
I hope that that is helpful.