76
The Cabinet Secretary told us in her evidence that the Scottish Government were, in this...
Conclusion
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
Government Response
Not Addressed
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
This is a recommendation for the Scottish Government.
Source
Committee
Scottish Affairs Committee
Inquiry
Welfare policy in Scotland
Report
Second Report - Welfare policy in Scotland
23 Jun 2021
HC 55
Addressee Bodies
Scotland Office
Timeline
Recommendation age
4.9 yrs
Report published
23 Jun 2021