Alison Johnstone MSP, Social Security spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, has urged the Scottish Government to use new devolved powers to stop an estimated 20,000 Scottish children being punished by the Westminster Government’s lower benefits cap. Continue reading Greens: Scotland must act to stop benefits cap ‘cruelty’
Continue reading Twenty thousand Scottish children to be hit by benefits cap
Scotland’s Citizens Advice service gave 1 million pieces of advice last year, helping over 310,000 individuals – equivalent to over 1 in every 14 adults.
The service also put £120m into the pockets of Scottish citizens, though improving their financial health by helping them to access benefits entitlements and manage debt effectively. This helped some to avoid crisis situations like poverty, debt and homelessness.
Continue reading Thanks a million – CABs suppport one in 14 adult Scots
At least 2,000 people who have direct experience of receiving benefits are to help shape Scotland’s first ever social security system. People from across the country who currently receive a benefit which will be devolved to Scotland, or who have received it in the last year, will be recruited to help to design and test the new system to ensure it works for them.
The Experience Groups will be set up from spring 2017, and will build on the feedback which is already being gathered through the Scottish Government’s current social security consultation.
Announcing the project, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security, Angela Constance said: “We want to build a fairer social security system that treats people with dignity and respect. When we set out our guiding principles for social security, we said that we would put the user experience first, and that our system would be designed with and for the people of Scotland.
“As part of that process we are already consulting with a wide range of people from across Scotland to gather their feedback on how the current system works.
“We have listened to what goes well, but have also heard many reports of the problems so many people face when accessing benefits. We want to make sure that does not happen in our new system – therefore we will recruit at least 2,000 people from across Scotland, who are in receipt of benefits, to help us shape and test our new system.
“We are determined that our new social security system is built to support those people who need it most. This crucial involvement from people with direct experience of receiving social security payments will help make sure that we get it right.”
Once fully devolved, Scotland will take control of around £2.7 billion, or 15% of the total Scottish social security bill. The remainder of spending in Scotland will remain under control of the UK Government.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on Scotland’s first ever social security consultation. You can give you views at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/social-security/social-security-in-scotland
You can also get involved in the consultation by email at socialsecurityconsultation@gov.scot or telephone on 0131 244 7763 or in writing at Social Security Consultation, 5th Floor, 5 Atlantic Quay, 150 Broomielaw, Glasgow, G2 8LU.
LOCAL EVENT: ROYSTON WARDIEBURN COMMUNITY CENTRE
Wednesday 26 October 10am – 12.30pm
We inivte you/your group to take part in a local consultation event about Social Security in Scotland. The event will take place in Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre on Wednesday 26th October from 10 – 12.30. The event has been organised in conjunction with the Poverty Alliance who have been running these sessions throughout Scotland during the last couple of months. We are keen to ensure that people from North Edinburgh who have experience of the current system are able to take part in the process and have their voices heard.
Continue reading Scots on benefits to help shape our welfare system
Hi folks,
I am writing to invite you/your group to take part in a local consultation event about Social Security in Scotland. The event will take place in Royston/Wardieburn Community Centre on Wednesday 26th October from 10 – 12.30. Continue reading Have your say on our benefits system
Successful projects that have helped people cope with issues such as debt, mortgage worries and benefit problems will continue thanks to £6 million of funding. Among those succesful projects is Granton Information Centre, who increased one client’s household income by a staggering £15,000. Continue reading Easing the burden: funding extension for ‘crucial’ advice services
CAS report paints a bleak picture of clients in crisis
On the day Britain welcomed (?) our new Prime Minister, Citizens Advice Scotland published new evidence exposing the levels of poverty and destitution in Scotland.
Continue reading ‘the social security system is simply not working’
Your opportunity to shape the benefits system in Scotland
People across Scotland are being given the chance to help shape the country’s first ever social security system. The Scottish Government has launched a 13 week consultation looking for views on the benefits being devolved to Scotland, as well as how they are delivered. Continue reading Social Security consultation underway
More than 200,000 low income households have received grants to help them through difficult times, thanks to the Scottish Welfare Fund. New figures show that since the scheme was set up in April 2013, £97.9 million worth of grants have been given to nearly 204,000 households in Scotland. Continue reading Thousands of struggling Scots aided by crisis fund
Unemployment in Scotland fell by 18,000 in the period March to May, and now stands at 152,000, according to data released today. Continue reading Jobless figures down but economy flat, latest figures reveal
