Draft Disability Assistance for Older People (Scotland) Regulations 2024: Draft Equality Impact Assessment

Who was involved in this Equality Impact Assessment?

This Equality Impact Assessment has been developed involving officials from within the Scottish Government and with a range of external stakeholders, as well as the wider public.

In July 2016, the Scottish Government launched a public consultation to support the development of a framework that would become the Social Security (Scotland) Bill. This received more than 200 responses to questions relating to disability benefits with an even split between organisational and individual responses. In particular, comments were invited on a partial Equality Impact Assessment which represented the Scottish Government’s work on the impact of social security policy on people with protected characteristics prior to the consultation.

There were 521 formal written responses submitted overall, of which 241 were from organisations and 280 from individual respondents. Of the 241 organisational responses, 81 were received from stakeholder groups relating to children and young people, equalities and human rights, disability and long term conditions, and carers. The independent analysis of the responses along with the Scottish Government response were published on 22 May 2017.^[10] In addition, the Equality Impact Assessment that was published alongside the Social Security (Scotland) Bill was used to inform this Equality Impact Assessment for Pension Age Disability Payment.^[11]

The Consultation on Disability Assistance was published on 5 March 2019. In line with the principles of dignity, fairness and respect, the Scottish Government sought the views of the people of Scotland on the three proposed disability assistance benefits to replace Disability Living Allowance for Children, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance. The consultation closed on 28 May 2019, having received 263 replies, of which 74 were from stakeholder organisations and 189 were from individuals. An analysis of responses was published in October 2019.^[12] Targeted consultation with stakeholders representing people with protected characteristics was undertaken during the consultation period.

In August 2022, the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group (DACBEAG) shared advice on Pension Age Disability Payment with the Scottish Government.^[13] Scottish Ministers responded on 1 March 2023,^[14] accepting Recommendation 12 which commits the Scottish Government to completing a robust Equality Impact Assessment for Pension Age Disability Payment.

The Scottish Government has also held specific stakeholder engagement sessions for Pension Age Disability Payment. In April 2023, a stakeholder engagement workshop was held to inform the findings of this Equality Impact Assessment. Key stakeholders from MND Scotland, Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), Scottish Women’s Convention and Christians Against Poverty attended this workshop.