Devolved social security benefits: stakeholder engagement toolkit
Overview of the delivery of devolved benefits, delivery timetable, factsheets and information on spreading the word about devolved benefits.
Spreading the Word About the Devolved Social Security Benefits
Intranet Article
You can add this article, for your staff, onto your organisation's intranet about the Scottish Government's social security plans.
The Scottish Government is establishing a new social security system administered by Social Security Scotland.
Once fully operational, it will deliver benefits to 1.4 million people and provide £4.2 billion in payments every year.
The benefits (shown in the table below) will include a number of payments previously offered through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), including Disability Assistance, as well as brand new benefits such as the Scottish Child Payment and the Young Carer's Grant.
The Scottish Government will gradually introduce the benefits that it is creating, including the ones that will replace the DWP benefits in Scotland.
On Thursday 28 February, the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People updated the Scottish Parliament on the high level delivery timetable for benefits.
On 26 June 2019, the Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government announced the Scottish Government will introduce a new benefit for low income families to reduce levels of child poverty in Scotland called the Scottish Child Payment. You can read it at https://www.gov.scot/news/new-gbp-10-benefit-targets-child-poverty/.
An updated Scottish Child Payment position paper was published on 4 October 2019 which sets out policy developments which had been undertaken alongside continued work on service design and delivery. You can read it at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-child-payment-updated-position-paper/.
| Department for Work and Pensions benefit | Our replacement benefit | Date available |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable - new benefit | Carer's Allowance Supplement | Available now |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment | Available now |
| Not applicable - new benefit | Best Start Grant Early Years Payment | Available now |
| Not applicable - new benefit | Best Start Grant School Age Payment | Available now |
| Healthy Start Vouchers | Best Start Foods | Available now |
| Funeral Expense Payment | Funeral Support Payment | Available now |
| Not applicable - new benefit | Young Carer Grant | Available now |
| Not applicable - new benefit | Job Start Payment | Spring 2020 |
| Child Disability Living Allowance | Disability Assistance for Children and Young People | Summer 2020 |
| No equivalent | Scottish Child Payment for under 6s | Christmas 2020 |
| No equivalent | Children who receive the highest care component of Disability Assistance become entitled to Winter Heating Assistance | By end of 2020 |
| Personal Independence Payments | Disability Assistance for Working Age People | Early 2021 |
| No equivalent | Additional payments to carers who look after more than one disabled child | Early 2021 |
| Attendance Allowance | Disability Assistance for Older People | 2021 |
| Winter Fuel Payment | Winter Heating Assistance | Winter 2021 |
| Cold Weather Payment | Cold Spell - Heating Assistance | Winter 2021 |
| Carer's Allowance | Scottish Carer's Allowance | Early 2022 |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit | Employment Injury Assistance | Autumn 2022 |
| No equivalent | Scottish Child Payment for under 16s | By the end of 2022 |
Website Newsletter/Article
You can add these news stories to your organisation's website or newsletter to inform your clients about the Scottish Government's plans.
Spread the word about the Young Carer Grant
Why is the Young Carer Grant only available to young carers aged 16, 17 and 18 year olds?
Young people aged 16, 17 and 18 are often at transition point in their lives as they move into the adult world. They may be finishing school, getting a first job, undertaking further study or taking up new leisure opportunities. For many young adults with significant caring responsibilities, their opportunities may be limited by their caring role. The aim of the grant is to help young people improve their quality of life and take part in opportunities that are the norm for other young adults.
Stakeholders have been unequivocal that providing payments to under 16s through the social security system is inappropriate. Making payments to carers under 16 carries the risk that the Scottish Government would put young people at risk of financial abuse and may be pressurised into a caring role in order to get the payment.
Do 18 year olds need to be in school to receive Young Carer Grant?
No this is no longer the case. During the consultation the draft regulations contained the stipulation that 18 year olds had to be in school to receive Young Carer Grant. The consultation felt the grant should be more inclusive so this stipulation was dropped allowing all young carers to apply regardless of their educational status.
How will young carers apply for the grant?
The grant will be open to applications from 21 October 2019, and young carers will be able to apply by three methods;
- Online at https://www.mygov.scot/young-carer-grant/
- By phoning Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222
- By paper form that can be downloaded at mygov.scot and returned to: PO Box 10314, Dundee, DD1 9GN. They can also request the paper form with a prepaid envelope by phoning the agency.
Over the development period we spoke to 234 people, over 100 of those being young carers. During these conversations we tested our application forms and changed any part that someone struggled on. This has helped us produce an application with its users at the heart, that has been designed to be accessible to all young carers.
Will young carers be able to see someone face-to-face in a local office?
Yes. The Social Security Agency will provide a local presence, with a human face, where people can go to get one-to-one support from someone from the agency if required. This will be based, wherever possible, in places that people already visit so that the agency's services can be joined up with other related support. Depending on their preference people will also be able to engage with the agency through a range of additional options including online and by phone.
Will young carers be allowed breaks in care?
Yes, of the 13 week qualifying period the young carer needs to care for an average of 16 hours a week. Of these 13 weeks we allow up to three weeks break in care. This is to accommodate young carers who care for someone who's care needs may vary from week to week without having to start their application again.
Will young carers be able to combine the number of hours they care a week over multiple people?
Yes. Young carers will be able to combine the number of hours they care for up to three people to make the 16 hour a week threshold.
For example, on average a young carer may spend eight hours a week caring for their grandmother, two hours a week caring for a sibling and six hours a week caring for a neighbour. By combining these hours the young carer would meet the minimum average 16 hour a week criteria and be eligible for Young Carer Grant.
Does Young Carer Grant stop the young carer applying for Carer's Allowance?
No. If a young carer believes they are eligible for both Young Carer Grant and Carer's Allowance we encourage them to apply for Young Carer Grant first. Once they have received this they can apply for Carer's Allowance.
They must do it this way round as those in receipt, or who have applied for Carer's Allowance will be ineligible for Young Carer Grant.
Will a young carer still be eligible for Young Carer Grant if someone else is already claiming Carer's Allowance?
Yes. The young carer will still be able to access Young Carer Grant if someone else is claiming Carer's Allowance for the same cared for person.
How are young carers notified of any decision?
Once a decision has been made a successful applicant will receive an acceptance letter. This informs them that their application has been successful and the amount they will receive and when. This will always be the full amount, which initially will be £300 and then uprated with inflation.
If the applicant is unsuccessful they will receive a denial letter. This will let them know why they have been deemed ineligible and include a redetermination form. If the applicant does believe the decision is wrong they may return the completed form to Social Security Scotland or phone them on 0800 182 2222.
What can Young Carer Grant be spent on?
The young carer is free to use the money however they like.
Young Carer Grant is intended to support young carers to:
- look after their own health and wellbeing, improve their quality of life and reduce any negative impact of caring
- participate fully in society and, if they choose, engage in training, education and employment opportunities, as well as social and leisure
- have an increased sense of control and empowerment over their lives
By giving freedom to the young carer on how they spend their money we can empower them to choose what they feel is best for themselves.
Spread the word about benefit take-up
A key principle enshrined in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 is that social security is an investment in the people of Scotland. Scottish benefits will support over half a million people and we want all who are eligible to take-up the financial support available to them.
Throughout this parliamentary term, we are delivering a programme of activity intended to raise awareness of Scottish benefits, and to ensure that people are receiving what they're entitled to.
The Scottish Government are working with local authorities, NHS boards, third sector organisations and a range of advice and support services to:
- better understand the barriers preventing people from claiming benefits
- ensure we take every reasonable step to encourage people to receive their full entitlement
Benefit take-up strategy
The Scottish Government published the first Benefit Take-up Strategy (October 2019) under the provision of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. The strategy sets out Scottish Ministers' work supporting benefit take-up to date. It also introduces a series of new activities and initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of and access to Scottish benefits and supporting those who are eligible to apply. These include:
- a new £500,000 Scottish Benefit Take-up Fund to be launched in November 2019, and available for 2020, to assist organisations who are preparing their services and staff to support people who will be applying for Scottish benefits
- a new £100,000 Income Maximisation Fund available for 2020 to assist organisations who support people to increase their household incomes, with an emphasis on ensuring people are aware of the financial support available to them
- establishing a Take-up Stakeholder Reference Group to provide advice and support in the implementation of this strategy, as well as feeding into the development of the next strategy
- developing a Take-up Stakeholder Toolkit to help existing services to support their clients with Scottish benefits, and - in particular - with issues related to non-take- up
- two roundtable events on access to social security to be held in 2020 which will be co-designed with important organisations to explore solutions to issues such as stigma, barriers to access, and the human rights-based approach
Benefit Take-up and Income Maximisation Funds
The Benefit Take-up and Income Maximisation Funds opened to applications on 27 November 2019. These funds recognise the important role that voluntary organisations play in supporting people living in Scotland to take-up their benefit entitlement.
Both funds will be open to applications from organisations (including registered charities) which:
- are established for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes and
- provide free and impartial advice to people living in Scotland who are applying for, or seeking to apply for, Scottish social security benefits and
- do not gain any direct economic advantage from advice provided, for example through provision of further chargeable services
Application support is available to smaller organisations (with an annual turnover below £200,000). This is provided on our behalf by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
Application form and guidance for the Benefit Take-up and Income Maximisation Funds.
Blogs
If you have a blog channel and would welcome guest blogs, please find below content that can be attributed to the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville. Please also feel free to use any quotes from this blog in any news pieces that you wish to produce.
A benefits system with people at its heart
From 1 April 2020, responsibility for all devolved benefits, including their funding, will sit with the Scottish Government.
Starting in 2020, around half a million cases - the equivalent of around 10% of people in Scotland - will transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.
Within a programme which is already the largest transfer of powers since devolution, these forms of assistance are incredibility complex.
I want to ensure that there is real trust placed in our social security system in Scotland. To gain this trust we must uphold our values of treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.
We will continue to listen to people and gather views to inform our thinking and check that what we are proposing is right before we progress to developing regulations. For example, in support of the disability benefits due to launch in 2020 and into 2021, the Scottish Government has completed a consultation on the Scottish approach to Disability Assistance. The results can be found at https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-disability-assistance-scotland-scottish-government-response/pages/1/.
The consultation results were published on 28 October 2019. This information will be considered along with the findings from the 2016 consultation and continued work with Experience Panels and Stakeholders. The responses, including some from several events held across Scotland will continue to inform policy development and service design to meet the needs of the children and adults it is intended to help.
Getting it right for Scotland
We have repeatedly heard about the stress and anxiety caused by the current UK Government system. We will ensure that the Scottish social security system is different. We will create a fair, transparent system which respects the needs of individuals and works for people, not against them.
We've come a long way in a short time. I do not underestimate the complexity nor the importance of the work still to be done. But the prize of getting it right is a great one - a social security system with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart which works for the people of Scotland.
Social Media
Here is some social media for you to use.
The Scottish Government has set out its ambitious timetable for the delivery of replacement benefits that will be introduced using its new Social Security powers.
The Scottish Government has created a series of documents with updates on the benefits and payments they will introduce - www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-policy-position-papers/
You will be able to communicate with Social Security Scotland in the way that is best for you.
Our new social security system is designed together with users themselves and puts people first. Once fully operational, you will be able to apply for Social Security Scotland benefits online, by phone, post or in person. The process will be clear and accessible from start to finish so that people understand how and when their application will be dealt with.
The Scottish Government will not means test disability assistance and if you are employed this will have no impact on your entitlement.
Social Security Scotland will take into consideration how your condition affects you and your circumstances.
The Scottish Government is committed to reducing the number of individuals required to attend a face to face assessment.
If you do need to have a face to face assessment, you will be able to bring a supporter with you, or have access to independent advocacy if you have a disability that means that you would find it difficult to engage fully in the assessment.
In the new Scottish social security system, if a face to face assessment is required, it will be audio recorded as standard and individuals will routinely be provided with a copy of the report written by the assessor without having to request it.
The Scottish Government social security system will make awards that are person-centred. Awards will be made on a rolling basis, which means that awards will not be stopped when a review is underway.
The Scottish Government will improve provision for people with a terminal illness. There will be no requirement to undergo further assessment, awards will be calculated from the date of application and entitlement to the highest rate of assistance that a person is eligible for.
Next Spring, with the UK Government's co-operation, we will introduce the Job Start Payment for 16-24 year olds. This new £250 payment (£400 for those with children). It will help around 4,400 young people with the cost of starting a new job.
The new £10 weekly Scottish Child Payment has taken its first step to being introduced.
Once fully rolled out, the benefit could help up to 410,000 eligible under 16s and lift 30,000 children out of poverty.
https://news.gov.scot/news/first-step-to-new-scottish-child-payment
The Scottish Child Payment puts more money into parents' and carers' pockets to help make ends meet.
This new benefit will provide eligible families with £10 a week for every child under 16, lifting around 30,000 children out of relative poverty when fully rolled out.
#ScotPfG
Two new funds have opened for applications from voluntary organisations to support people in Scotland to access the benefits they are entitled to. To apply: click on https://www.gov.scot/publications/benefit-take-up-funds-form-and-guidance/ Application support: go to https://scvo.org/funding/benefit-take-up-and-income-maximisation-fund Deadline: 31 January 2020
Contact
Email: Gary.Murdie@gov.scot
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