Recommendations & Conclusions
20 items
5
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies. This will allow any complex issues to be ironed out before the announcement.
Government response AI summary
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
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Scotland Office
8
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that Social Security Scotland consider all mechanisms for acquiring their own data where possible if they are requesting data which DWP does not hold. DWP and Social Security Scotland should develop a shared protocol and agreement about data sharing to ensure swifter data sharing on a benefit-by-benefit basis. …
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We recommend that Social Security Scotland consider all mechanisms for acquiring their own data where possible if they are requesting data which DWP does not hold. DWP and Social Security Scotland should develop a shared protocol and agreement about data sharing to ensure swifter data sharing on a benefit-by-benefit basis. This protocol should be agreed as soon as possible. This could include a shared DWP-Social Security Scotland data team to examine data and produce information reports. (Paragraph 55) Accessing Social Security in Scotland
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Government response AI summary
The government redirects responsibility for Social Security Scotland acquiring its own data to the Scottish Government, and, regarding a shared data protocol, describes existing DWP data sharing boards and forums, without committing to developing a new protocol or shared team.
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Scotland Office
11
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including housing associations and Local Authorities & COSLA), as well as advocacy groups to keep up to …
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We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including housing associations and Local Authorities & COSLA), as well as advocacy groups to keep up to date with changes and updates to social security in Scotland and would help implementation of a ‘no wrong door’ policy.
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, but did not specifically commit to developing a Scottish welfare service directory as recommended.
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Scotland Office
12
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout Welfare policy in Scotland 5 the covid-19 pandemic to make sure that their respective …
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We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout Welfare policy in Scotland 5 the covid-19 pandemic to make sure that their respective web pages are clear and highlight relevant and accurate information and sign-post Scottish residents to the correct information resource.
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Government response AI summary
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
13
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion charities. However, we understand that there are concerns over how …
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We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion charities. However, we understand that there are concerns over how the Scottish Government will gather the relevant data required to make its decisions on the amount of money given to claimants. We also understand the concerns of DWP ministers who highlighted how previous systems that relied primarily on paper- based assessments could pose problems for understanding and providing adequate support for people with disabilities.
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Government response AI summary
The UK government redirects the item, stating that it pertains to the Scottish Government's responsibilities and intentions regarding disability benefit assessments.
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Scotland Office
14
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face to face assessments works in practice. This ought to include …
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We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face to face assessments works in practice. This ought to include evidence about how these changes impact claimants’ experiences of the benefit system. (Paragraph 80) Universal Credit: Digital by default
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Government response AI summary
The government states that this is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
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Scotland Office
52
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that the Scottish Government liaise with the DWP before announcing new welfare policies. This will allow any complex issues to be ironed out before the announcement.
Government response AI summary
The UK government states this recommendation is for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
54
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that the DWP should prioritise delivering the six to 16-year-old data required by the Scottish Government, or work with the Scottish Government to find an alternative type of data, so that the Scottish Government are able to roll out the Scottish Child Payment for this age group.
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We recommend that the DWP should prioritise delivering the six to 16-year-old data required by the Scottish Government, or work with the Scottish Government to find an alternative type of data, so that the Scottish Government are able to roll out the Scottish Child Payment for this age group.
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Government response AI summary
The government outlines existing data sharing efforts but states data for older children are not always readily available and redirects responsibility to the Scottish Government to establish data needs and consider acquiring their own data from other sources.
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Scotland Office
61
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We heard how a wide range of organisations supported people to understand their eligibilities and access benefits and poverty relief. Local Authorities have invested funds and developed services to help people experiencing poverty navigate the various benefits 128 Q102 129 Q102 130 Q102 131 Q8 132 Q44 133 Citizens Advice …
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We heard how a wide range of organisations supported people to understand their eligibilities and access benefits and poverty relief. Local Authorities have invested funds and developed services to help people experiencing poverty navigate the various benefits 128 Q102 129 Q102 130 Q102 131 Q8 132 Q44 133 Citizens Advice Scotland (WPS0014) 134 Q102 135 Q102 136 Q44 28 Welfare policy in Scotland and apply to Universal Credit; for example, Councillor Bell from Glasgow City Council told us of a £2million investment in support for Universal Credit applications.137 Polly Jones from The Trussell Trust food bank network stated that through their provision of emergency food parcels, they have developed collaborations that enable specialist advice providers to visit the foodbank to provide support, and volunteers sign-post to funds or services, stating ‘we have relationships with nearly 30,000 referral agencies across the UK. It is a very complex picture.’138 They also told us that a research project in East Scotland with advice providers found that ‘many of those very experienced advice providers themselves could not keep up with the changes in advice provision and support across their own localities.’139
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Government response AI summary
The government states that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to continuously improve the benefits experience and review service delivery issues for future benefit delivery.
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Scotland Office
64
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
As discussed in detail in Chapter five, most people applying to the DWP for Universal Credit in Scotland will initially apply through an online digital process. Once a claim is processed, they will meet with an assigned Jobcentre Plus work coach as part of their Claimant Commitment contract. The evidence …
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As discussed in detail in Chapter five, most people applying to the DWP for Universal Credit in Scotland will initially apply through an online digital process. Once a claim is processed, they will meet with an assigned Jobcentre Plus work coach as part of their Claimant Commitment contract. The evidence we were presented with on this issue drew attention to some difficulties with how Jobcentre Plus operates in Scotland. We heard concerns from Chris Birt at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation about whether front-line Jobcentre Plus staff in Scotland had the knowledge and time to sign-post claimants to application processes for devolved benefits and support provided by other agencies such as local authorities.152 Kirsty McKechnie at the Child Poverty Action Group highlighted their concerns over the caseloads of work coaches which may affect their time and ability to provide a wide range of relevant advice and sign-posting to people experiencing poverty. They told us that there was ‘concern raised about how many people work coaches have to look after at the moment’.153 Professor McKeever, Ulster University, raised a similar point saying that because of the high workload of work coaches ‘appointments have been reduced from 50 minutes to 30 minutes. That is giving less time to give individualised support’.154 This was also the Scottish Government’s view as the Cabinet Secretary told us that the ‘level of work that job coaches have is still high.’155 Meanwhile, Neil Cowan of The Poverty Alliance pointed to another issue of interaction with work coaches causing difficulty for claimants in Scotland because the ‘support and information from their work coach, which can be sometimes quite inconsistent.’156 This view was supported by the Chris Birt from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation who stated that, ‘people’s experiences are varied wildly by the amount of time that a work coach is able to put into helping them get back into work. Work coaches can really change people’s lives posit
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Government response AI summary
The government established a regular Operational Reference Group with Social Security Scotland to review service delivery issues and consider improvements for the shared benefits experience.
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Scotland Office
65
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
Policy in Practice submitted written evidence outlining how there are practical issues for claimants to address in accessing job centres and their services in the more rural areas of Scotland. In their research, Policy in Practice found that uptake of benefits in rural areas decreases by up to 7% in …
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Policy in Practice submitted written evidence outlining how there are practical issues for claimants to address in accessing job centres and their services in the more rural areas of Scotland. In their research, Policy in Practice found that uptake of benefits in rural areas decreases by up to 7% in some cases when compared with urban areas.158 They suggested that this issue would be important to consider when thinking about how 149 Q74 150 Q111 151 Q73 152 Q60 153 Q92 154 Q37 155 Q145 156 Q49 157 Q49 158 Policy in Practice (WPS0010) 30 Welfare policy in Scotland to support low-income households in rural areas in Scotland.159 In its evidence the UK Government highlighted that they were trying to address the issue of offering benefit services to people who lived in rural areas. They highlighted their pilot trial in Inverness, Dingwall and Invergordon of using video calls as a way of supporting people during the pandemic when people have not been able to travel.160 We were told by the Minister for Welfare Delivery that the pilot had been so successful that he believes this innovation ‘has potential to be rolled out across the United Kingdom.’161 Margarita Morrison, Area Director, Work and Health Services Scotland at the DWP explained that they knew there ‘will always be customers that will need to come in and see us’162 but this video call service allows those with the right skills and who know what they ‘wanted to do and, therefore, were able to do that over video.’163
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Government response AI summary
The government established an Operational Reference Group with Social Security Scotland to review service delivery issues and consider improvements to the benefits experience, including accessibility challenges.
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Scotland Office
67
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We understand that the devolution of benefits has left a ‘tricky’ landscape of Scottish social security. There should be an improvement of communications to claimants on what measures are available to them and a review of how Jobcentres work in Scotland (with a particular look into how they convey information …
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We understand that the devolution of benefits has left a ‘tricky’ landscape of Scottish social security. There should be an improvement of communications to claimants on what measures are available to them and a review of how Jobcentres work in Scotland (with a particular look into how they convey information on devolved benefits to claimants). We are keen to see a ‘no wrong door policy’ being adopted in Scotland (whereby if someone approaches one agency that agency can help sign-post and pass on the information to the correct organisation).
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, deferring direct action on communication and Jobcentre reviews.
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Scotland Office
69
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including 159 Policy in Practice (WPS0010) 160 Q208 161 Q208 162 Q208 163 Q208 164 “Government delivers …
Read more
We recommend that the Joint Ministerial Working Group consider developing new communications materials and guidance in the form of a Scottish welfare service directory to be updated annually. This would allow claimants, organisations (including 159 Policy in Practice (WPS0010) 160 Q208 161 Q208 162 Q208 163 Q208 164 “Government delivers 13,500 Work Coaches to boost Britain’s Jobs Army”, Department for Work and Pensions press release, March 2021, accessed 27 April 2021 165 Q183 166 Q145 167 Q145 Welfare policy in Scotland 31 housing associations and Local Authorities & COSLA), as well as advocacy groups to keep up to date with changes and updates to social security in Scotland and would help implementation of a ‘no wrong door’ policy.
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that DWP and Social Security Scotland have established an Operational Reference Group to review service delivery issues and consider future improvements for shared customers, but did not specifically commit to developing a Scottish welfare service directory.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
70
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout the covid-19 pandemic to make sure that their respective web pages are clear and …
Read more
We also recommend that Social Security Scotland fully engage with the independent benefit calculators currently signposted by the UK Government on its website and for both governments to learn from communications that have taken place throughout the covid-19 pandemic to make sure that their respective web pages are clear and highlight relevant and accurate information and sign-post Scottish residents to the correct information resource. Devolution of disability benefits to the Scottish Government
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Government response AI summary
The UK government redirected the recommendation, stating it is a matter for the Scottish Government to address.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
75
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
The DWP’s preferred approach for administering disability benefits in the UK centres on a contracted-out assessment process, involving face to face assessments to gain information and assess a claimant’s capability for work to determine the level of entitlement. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson MP, told …
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The DWP’s preferred approach for administering disability benefits in the UK centres on a contracted-out assessment process, involving face to face assessments to gain information and assess a claimant’s capability for work to determine the level of entitlement. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, Justin Tomlinson MP, told us that the ‘face to face assessment builds your case and it explores things.’179 The Minister did mention that these assessments ‘cause anxiety’180 for claimants, who often also have to collect and provide a range of supporting evidence. He highlighted that there was an upcoming health and disability Green Paper that ‘will look at the ability to gather supportive evidence’181 because a claimant is ‘more likely to get that through a paper based review than a full traditional face-to-face assessment.’182
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Government response AI summary
The government states that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
76
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
The Cabinet Secretary told us in her evidence that the Scottish Government were, in this instance, moving away from the DWP’s system of using contracted out face to face assessments as part of the information gathering process to administrate disability benefits. She told us that, following feedback from the Scottish …
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The Cabinet Secretary told us in her evidence that the Scottish Government were, in this instance, moving away from the DWP’s system of using contracted out face to face assessments as part of the information gathering process to administrate disability benefits. She told us that, following feedback from the Scottish Government’s Social security Experience Panels,183 face to face assessments ‘will not have any place within the Scottish system at all.’184 The Cabinet Secretary highlighted the reason for making this change was that the Scottish Government noted that the current assessment system made claimants ‘talk about the stress and anxiety’185 they felt and they used ‘words like “barbaric” for what they have to go through.’186 The Cabinet Secretary highlighted to us that instead the Scottish Government would be looking to get the relevant evidence to be able to make a decision on the level of support through an application form ‘designed to ensure that we have the information required to make a decision’187 and ‘supporting information coming in from whoever knows the client best’188 including carers or medical practitioners.189
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Government response AI summary
The UK government states this observation is for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
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Scotland Office
77
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
The Scottish Association for Mental Health ‘welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment that no one will be subject to a face to face reassessment’190 once the Scottish 177 Scottish Government, Social Security, Disability Assistance, accessed 26 April 2021 178 Scottish Government, Social Security, Disability Assistance, accessed 26 April 2021 179 Q206 …
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The Scottish Association for Mental Health ‘welcomed the Scottish Government’s commitment that no one will be subject to a face to face reassessment’190 once the Scottish 177 Scottish Government, Social Security, Disability Assistance, accessed 26 April 2021 178 Scottish Government, Social Security, Disability Assistance, accessed 26 April 2021 179 Q206 180 Q184 181 Q178 182 Q178 183 Q138 184 Q162 185 Q162 186 Q162 187 Q162 188 Q162 189 Q162 190 Scottish Association for Mental Health (WPS0005) Welfare policy in Scotland 33 Government rolls out its disability benefits whilst Inclusion Scotland are ‘very keen to see the full transfer of the administration of disability benefits to the Scottish Social Security Agency’191 due to the reduction in face to face assessment policy.
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Government response AI summary
The government stated that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
78
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
The UK Government’s Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, however, told us that he had reservations about the Scottish Government’s ‘potential changes to adult PIP [Personal Independence Payment]’192 and how he felt the potential changes ‘would replicate the limitations and failings of DLA [Disability Living Allowance]’.193 In particular, the …
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The UK Government’s Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, however, told us that he had reservations about the Scottish Government’s ‘potential changes to adult PIP [Personal Independence Payment]’192 and how he felt the potential changes ‘would replicate the limitations and failings of DLA [Disability Living Allowance]’.193 In particular, the Minister raised questions about how the process would work for obtaining the correct supportive evidence to help Social Security Scotland make decisions on the levels of support for disabled claimants. The Minister noted how the Scottish Government wants to ‘have a greater reliance on medical evidence’194 and highlighted that this evidence could be provided by GPs. However, he then raised the issues that ‘not every single claimant regularly visits their GP’195 and that GPs themselves would not want to be ‘part of the benefit process’.196 This would mean that without the supportive evidence from a medical practitioner, greater emphasis would be put on the application form which would in effect be ‘recreating the old Disability Living Allowance benefit, where claimants had a 16% chance of getting a higher rate of support, yet under PIP [Personal Independence Payment] it is 33%.’197 This point was further highlighted in the letter the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work and the Minister for Welfare Delivery sent us after their evidence session where they explained that the highest level of support was only achieved by 6% of DLA claimants whilst 37% of PIP claimants did receive that support.198 Overall the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work worried that the ‘Scottish Government are at serious risk of cutting support to disabled people in Scotland.’199
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Government response AI summary
The government redirects responsibility by stating that this is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
79
Conclusion
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion charities. However, we understand that there are concerns over how …
Read more
We welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to move away from face to face assessments as part of the process for administering disability benefits from this summer onward, and we note the support this initiative has from mental health and inclusion charities. However, we understand that there are concerns over how the Scottish Government will gather the relevant data required to make its decisions on the amount of money given to claimants. We also understand the concerns of DWP ministers who highlighted how previous systems that relied primarily on paper-based assessments could pose problems for understanding and providing adequate support for people with disabilities.
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government stated that this item is a recommendation for the Scottish Government, indicating it is not within their remit.
Read full response →
Scotland Office
80
Recommendation
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotl…
Deferred
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face to face assessments works in practice. This ought to include …
Read more
We recommend that Social Security Scotland should provide more information on how they will gather the relevant data required to make decisions on the amount of money given to claimants in order to ensure that the move away from face to face assessments works in practice. This ought to include evidence about how these changes impact claimants’ experiences of the benefit system. 191 Inclusion Scotland (WPS0007) 192 Q206 193 Q206 194 Q184 195 Q184 196 Q184 197 Q184 198 Letter from Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work & Minister for Welfare Delivery, Department for Work and Pensions to Chair 22 April 2021 199 Q184 34 Welfare policy in Scotland 5 Universal Credit: Digital by default
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Government response AI summary
The UK Government states that this recommendation is for the Scottish Government, thereby redirecting responsibility for providing more information on data gathering and impact.
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Scotland Office