Social Security client and experience panels research: effects of the coronavirus pandemic on communication preferences

A report of findings from research with client and experience panels about communication preferences.


Annex A: About survey respondents

Where possible, information from the survey was matched to demographic information supplied previously by participants. For Experience Panel members, information was matched to responses given in the 'About Your Benefits and You' and 'Social Security Experience Panels: Who is in the panels and their experiences so far' surveys.[9] For Client Panel members, information was matched to responses given in the 'Social Security Scotland Client Survey: 2018-2020'.[10]

The following demographic information is included to give context to the findings from the survey. Linking was not possible where there was missing or unclear information. The tables show proportions based on available information and the total number of respondents is given as (n) in the table title.

Two thirds of survey respondents (66 per cent) identified as female. One third (32 per cent) identified as male.

Table A1: Gender of survey respondents (n=408)
%
Female 65.9
Male 31.9
Other 1.0
Prefer not to say 1.2
Total 100

Almost half of respondents (47 per cent) were aged 45 to 59. Around one fifth (23 per cent) were aged 44 or under and around a third (30 per cent) were aged 60 or over.

Table A2: Age of survey respondents (n=401)
%
Under 25 1.5
25 – 44 21.4
45 – 59 46.6
60 – 79 29.7
80 or over 0.2
Prefer not to say 0.5
Total 100


Almost all survey respondents were White (96 per cent). Around 3 per cent of respondents were from a minority ethnic group.[11]

Table A3: Ethnicity of respondents (n=333)
%
White 95.8
Ethnic minority 3.3
Prefer not to say 0.9
Total 100

Most respondents (78 per cent) had a disability or long-term health condition.

Table A4: Respondents with a disability or long-term health condition (n=411)
%
Has a disability or long-term health condition 78.1
No condition 21.4
Prefer not to say 0.5
Total 100


More than half of respondents (53 per cent) had a mobility impairment. More than a third had a dexterity (39 per cent) or a memory (34 per cent) impairment.

Table A5: Types of disability or long-term health conditions (n=321) [12]
%
Mobility impairment 53.1
Dexterity 38.1
Memory 33.5
Learning/understanding/concentration 28.3
Hearing 10.1
Vision 7.6
Social or behavioral 2.2
Stamina 1.4
Has another kind of disability or long-term health condition 6.3
Prefer not to say 2.2
None of the above 0.3

Around half of respondents (46 per cent) said they were a carer.

Table A6: Respondents' caring status (n=409) [13]
%
Not a carer 52.8
Carer 45.5
Prefer not to say 1.7
Total 100

Most survey respondents lived in an urban area (82 per cent).[14]

Table A7: Location of respondents (n=450)
%
Urban 81.8
Rural 18.2
Total 100

Survey respondents had experience of claiming or helping someone else to claim a wide range of benefits. Table A8 shows the totals for Experience Panels respondents. The most common benefits claimed were Personal Independence Payment (76 per cent) and Disability Living Allowance (63 per cent).

Table A8: Experience Panels respondents' benefit experience [15] (n=348)
%
Personal Independence Payment 75.6
Disability Living Allowance 62.9
Carer's Allowance 40.2
Cold Weather Payment 37.6
Winter Fuel Payment 37.6
Discretionary Housing Payment 23.9
Universal Credit 21.3
Attendance Allowance 18.7
Scottish Welfare Fund 17.0
Severe Disablement Allowance 15.5
Best Start Grant/Foods 2.0

Table A9 shows the totals for Client Panels respondents. The most common benefit claimed was Best Start Grant/Foods (71 per cent).

Table A9: Client Panels respondents' benefit experience (n=63)
%
Best Start Grant/Foods 71.4
Carer's Allowance Supplement 44.4
Funeral Support Payment 22.2
Young Carer Grant 9.5

Contact

Email: SocialSecurityExperience@gov.scot

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