Social Security plans for Scotland: how will YOU be affected?

Also contained within the Bill are seven principles on which the Scottish social security system will be based. The Committee has today launched a call for evidence asking if these are the right principles and for views on the benefits contained within the Bill.

Committee Convener, Sandra White MSP said: “This Bill will have a huge effect on the daily lives of millions of people across Scotland. It will impact on some of the most vulnerable in our society and so it is vital that our Committee make sure any Bill works and delivers for ordinary Scots.

“It is clear from the principles within the Bill that the Scottish Government want people to be at the heart of the new system. But our Committee want to know what impact these principles will have and what these will mean for claimants who will have to live with the effects of this Bill.

“There is no doubt that this Bill marks a major change for Scotland in how the 11 benefits will be delivered. This is why we want to hear directly from those people to hear their views on whether the Bill will make a difference.”

As part of the Committee’s scrutiny it will hold a workshop with a group of witnesses who have direct experience of social security in a ‘Your Say’ session with some of the group giving formal evidence on 7 September 2017.

The Social Security (Scotland) Bill was introduced as a result of measures contained in the Scotland Act 2016. These measures give the Scottish Parliament legislative competence over disability, industrial injuries and carer‘s benefits, benefits for maternity, funeral and heating expenses, and Discretionary Housing Payments.