Committee
Social Justice and Social Security Committee 12 March 2026 [Draft]
12 Mar 2026 · S6 · Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Item of business
Adult Disability Payment
Erica Young
Watch on SPTV
The key thing here is that those recommendations reflect the evidence that reorientation of the ADP criteria better to reflect modern life and capture the social conditions in which disability has been experienced is vital if the payment is to achieve its purpose. How health conditions impact on quality of life and wellbeing is deeply shaped by factors ranging from the design of social infrastructure—workplaces and transport—to the access that an individual has to social networks and community resources that enable them to manage their health and pursue personal goals. The recommendations are designed to try to move us to a point where we develop more of an understanding of that in the social security system. As I said, there must be no limits to our ambitions—this should be the beginning and not the end of the conversation.At this juncture, I will explain the importance of some of Edel Harris’s suggestions for detailed changes to the criteria. I will talk you through the case of a lady who one of our citizens advice bureau advisers supported in a hospital setting. Nicole has anorexia. Her weight is still too low for her to be discharged from hospital. Dressing has a significant relationship with her health, because the fit of clothes is very much a proxy for weight gain. Bathing can have a similar impact, because of the absolute focus that it places on the body. Social engagement is very difficult because of the predominance of food in social situations; interactions in general can quite often revolve around food. Nicole experiences brain fog. She over-exercises, and her concentration and focus are affected by her condition. However, under the current eligibility criteria, she does not fit neatly into the boxes, as it were, of the narrow functional base criteria.What we discussed at great length as part of the review process was how to get the balance between an objective and a subjective process. We feel that the recommendations have achieved that balance by, essentially, widening the scope of the criteria at one level and, at another level, narrowing it, in the sense that we are sharpening the focus: first, to what outcomes could be achieved by putting support in place, and secondly, what the wider impacts of the condition are. Instead of simply a narrow functional approach, we are narrowing how we view what a person needs and what we could achieve for that person if we put the right support in place. That is the single most important angle from which to consider the issue.
In the same item of business
The Convener
SNP
Welcome back. Our next item of business is our evidence session on the Scottish Government’s response to Edel Harris’s independent review of adult disability...
Craig Smith (Scottish Action for Mental Health)
First, thank you very much for inviting me to give evidence. Overall, although we welcome the fact that in response to the independent review the Government ...
The Convener
SNP
Would anyone else like to come in on that point?
Erica Young (Citizens Advice Scotland)
Following on from what Craig Smith has said, one of the first things that I want to point out is that Scotland has demonstrated the scope of its ambition for...
Frank McKillop (Enable)
I echo much of what Craig Smith and Erika Young have said. The review came in the context of the 2024 report of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of...
Keith Park (MS Society Scotland)
I agree with everything that my colleagues on the panel have said. The MS Society Scotland is disappointed with the response of the Scottish Government for m...
The Convener
SNP
That has definitely given us food for thought—the figures are quite stark. Thanks for that, Keith.Looking at the Scottish Government’s response to the theme ...
Erica Young
The overall view from the Citizens Advice Scotland network is that the people’s service recommendations that are being taken forward are already highly align...
The Convener
SNP
That was really helpful. Does anyone else want to come in?
Craig Smith
Very briefly. I just want to echo what Erica Young has said. We welcome the fact that the Government has accepted most of the recommendations in this part of...
The Convener
SNP
We have discussed the recommendations that have been implemented or are in the process of being implemented. There are also bigger asks, such as in relation ...
Erica Young
Do you mean the better future recommendations that have been put on hold?
The Convener
SNP
Yes.
Erica Young
The key thing here is that those recommendations reflect the evidence that reorientation of the ADP criteria better to reflect modern life and capture the so...
The Convener
SNP
Thanks very much.
Carol Mochan (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The review suggested various additions to client communications, but the Government’s response emphasised the importance of clarity and simplicity. Do the wi...
Frank McKillop
We very much support the focus on simplicity, clarity and conciseness of information. Many of the people whom Enable has supported have said that they have b...
Carol Mochan
Lab
Having an easier flow of information might help many clients.You brought up a really important point about easy-to-read or easy-to-use guidance. Is there any...
Frank McKillop
I am not sure exactly where they get training. There are organisations that provide training. I would have to check whether Social Security Scotland is using...
Carol Mochan
Lab
It is something that we could look at as well.I do not know whether anyone else wants to come in.
Erica Young
I will come in briefly.Our focus tends to be on telephony. Social Security Scotland delivers 15 payments but has one switchboard line. Getting text messages ...
Carol Mochan
Lab
To be clear, are you saying that it is helpful for people to have free text boxes so that they can write in their own words about how they present?
Erica Young
Absolutely. So many people who are applying for the adult disability payment will have communication barriers or find it really difficult to articulate their...
Claire Baker
Lab
I will move on to theme 2, on processes that work. The Government accepted several recommendations but rejected others. The first of those rejected recommend...
Erica Young
I am happy to come in on that. The CAS network understands the Scottish Government’s position on that point, because there is a genuine risk that people migh...
Claire Baker
Lab
You recognise that there is a problem, but there is a solution that will lead to better decisions.There is a recommendation that there should be an opt-out, ...
Erica Young
We have seen a significant, three-fold, increase in the past year in the number of people seeking our advice about short-term assistance, but awareness and u...
Craig Smith
I absolutely agree with what Erica Young said. We believe that short-term assistance has been one of the really big positives of the development of the Scott...
Claire Baker
Lab
You are saying that short-term assistance could have an impact on the other benefits that a person receives.
Craig Smith
I echo Erica Young’s point that, because it is not a gateway to other payments, that must be clearly communicated to clients. Our position is that short-term...