Supported Employment 2018 and Beyond...ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2017

SOCIAL SECURITY IN SCOTLAND:WHAT DOES DEVOLUTION OF POWERS MEAN?

CLAIRE MCDERMOTT & ELLEN FERRINGTON MICHAELISCHRIS ASHE & LYNNE MURIE

SCOTTISH GOVERMENTclaire.mcdermott@gov.scot

Part 1

Social Security in Scotland – what does devolution of powers mean?

Claire McDermott and Ellen Ferrington Michaelis

Ill Health and Disability Benefits Policy Unit

THE SOCIAL SECURITY (SCOTLAND ) BILL 2017

The Bill represents

the next step in

building a new

Scottish social

security system.

It will be delivered

alongside work to set

up a new Scottish

social security

agency.

THE BILL

The Bill will establish a Scottish system based on

the principle that social security is a human right

and is key to the establishment of other human

rights.

THE NEW AGENCY

The Agency will have a central office in Dundee

and one in Glasgow, as well as providing locally

accessible face-to-face services in places people

already visit.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

The benefits being devolved and which will be

covered by the Bill are:

• Disability Living Allowance and

Personal Independence Payment

• Attendance Allowance

• Severe Disablement Allowance

• Industrial Injuries Disablement

Benefit and

• Benefits for carers, currently

Carer’s Allowance

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE

The other benefits being devolved and which will

be covered by the Bill are:

• Benefits for maternity expenses, currently the

Social Fund Sure Start Maternity Grants

• Benefits for funeral expenses, currently provided

as a Social Fund payment

• Discretionary Housing Payments

• Cold Weather Payments and annual Winter Fuel

Payments

APPLICATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS

• We intend to make the

assessment process fairer and will

reduce the amount of face to face

assessments being carried out

• Private companies will not be

involved in assessment of

people’s health and eligibility for

benefits.

• The culture and attitude of

assessors will also incorporate

dignity and respect.

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT COMMITMENTS

• All disability benefits will be protected, and non-

means tested

• Disability Living Allowance will be extended from

16 year olds to cover up to 18 year olds

• Longer award periods

• We will re-introduce automatic entitlement

• If you’re on a life-time award, you won’t be re-

assessed

• We will introduce a new, fairer approach to

challenging decisions.

ELIGIBILITY AND WORK

• Disability Living Allowance, Personal

Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance,

and Severe Disablement Allowance will not be

means tested.

• Your work status won’t affect your receiving

these benefits, including if you start working

when you are already receiving benefits.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Scottish Ministers have committed to delivering

all the benefits being devolved by the end of this

political term.

YOUR THOUGHTS

Contact:

Claire.mcdermott@gov.scot

socialsecurity@gov.scot

Find out more about Scotland’s new

social security powers:

www.gov.scot/socialsecurity

Part 2Social Security Directorate

Social Security Agency

Implementation

Chris Ashe – Resourcing

Lynne Murie – Resourcing

Recruitment – A Key Component

▪ Staff Reflect Scottish Society as a whole

▪ Dignity and respect for all

▪ Equal Opportunities/Diversity

▪ Apply workable recruitment solutions

▪ Work with stakeholders to share best

practices

▪ Seek, Invest and Deliver

Actions

• Engage with all groups to spread the

message

• Identify and understand issues and

barriers in applying for vacancies both

Internally and Externally

• Explore options to remove or lessen the

impact of issues and barriers

• Provisions needed for groups/individuals

Engagement groups

• Disability Agenda Scotland (DAS)

• Action on Hearing Loss (Scotland)

• Citizens Advice Direct (CAD)

• SG Equality and Diversity Groups

• Civil Service Trade Unions

• Alliance

• Local Authorities and COSLA

Engagement Groups

• ILF Scotland

• Capita

• TMP

• Macmillan

• NHS Scotland

• Inclusions Scotland

• Buiding Connections

Working Together

What stops people with disabilities

getting into work?

Questions

▪ What are the

Barriers/Issues faced

when applying for jobs?

▪ How do we remove or

lessen the barriers/Issues

faced?

▪ What would make a

difference?

▪ Workplace environments,

what specific individuals

should we make

provisions for?

▪ Do you have any other

ideas/advice/support to

promote vacancies and

encourage applications?

Close

• Thank you for your input today

• This will greatly help with our recruitment

delivery

• We would appreciate any feedback

• Feedback or further information:

• SSAIResourceMailbox@gov.scot