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Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
Thanks, cabinet secretary. I appreciate your reassurances.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
Thanks for that. How are Social Security Scotland processes being adapted to take into consideration the needs of the older clients who are applying for the benefit?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
I will move on to uptake. What are the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland doing to encourage take-up of the pension age disability payment?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
As my colleague Paul O’Kane said earlier, we need to get the form right. The existing form is 30 pages long; perhaps we could try to adapt that a wee bit.
I will move on. The UK Government has launched a green paper on plans to overhaul the current disability benefits system. A few worrying options have been mentioned, such as one-off grants and vouchers instead of regular payments. I seek your assurance—is that an approach that we will take in Scotland?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
I welcome that. I am aware of a joint initiative between Clydebank Asbestos Group, Unite and a retired members branch of Unison to promote the uptake of attendance allowance among their members. Would you or your officials be willing to meet them to hear about their efforts and how the Scottish Government could assist them?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 16 May 2024
Marie McNair
Good morning. I come back to STA. Our Scottish Parliament information centre briefing suggests that we ask the Scottish Government about that, but do you agree that it is more a question for the UK Government, if anyone at all?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Marie McNair
Thank you. I do not want to leave Marilyn Howard out. I thought that my questions were best directed to Adam Stachura and Debbie Horne, but would you like to share anything, Marilyn?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Marie McNair
Many thanks.
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Marie McNair
Thank you. Adam Stachura, do you want to share some thoughts?
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Meeting date: 9 May 2024
Marie McNair
Adam Stachura, you rightly pointed out earlier that 54 years have passed since the introduction of attendance allowance and that no change has been made to it. Are you aware of any reasons why the Westminster Government has left it unreformed for so long?