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 B: About interview participants
Survey respondents were invited to take part in an interview as outlined on page 17. Information from the survey was matched to demographic information supplied previously by participants, as outlined on page 98.
The following demographic information is included to give context to the findings described in the report. Where information is not held this has been indicated in the tables under 'unknown'.
Over half of interview participants (56 per cent) identified as female. More than a third (37 per cent) identified as male.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Female | 56.1 |
| Male | 36.6 |
| Unknown | 7.3 |
| Total | 100 |
Around one third (34 per cent) of interview participants were aged under 44. Around one quarter (29 per cent) were aged between 45 and 59 and one quarter (27 per cent) were aged between 60 and 79.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | 9.8 |
| 25 – 44 | 24.4 |
| 45 – 59 | 29.3 |
| 60 – 79 | 26.8 |
| Unknown | 9.8 |
| Total | 100 |
Almost all interview participants were White (85 per cent). Around 5 per cent were from a minority ethnic group.[16]
| % | |
|---|---|
| White | 85.4 |
| Ethnic minority | 4.8 |
| Unknown | 9.8 |
| Total | 100 |
Half of participants (51 per cent) did not have a disability or long-term health condition.
Table B4: Participants with a disability or long-term health condition (n=41)
| % | |
|---|---|
| Has a disability or long-term health condition | 43.9 |
| No condition | 51.2 |
| Unknown | 4.9 |
| Total | 100 |
Among those participants with a disability or long-term health condition, around three quarters had an impairment which affects mobility (78 per cent) or dexterity (72 per cent).
Table B5: Types of disability or long-term health conditions (n=18)[17]
| % | |
|---|---|
| Mobility impairment | 77.8 |
| Dexterity | 72.2 |
| Memory | 44.4 |
| Learning/understanding/concentration | 38.9 |
| Hearing | 22.2 |
| Vision | 16.7 |
| Social or behavioral | 16.7 |
| Stamina | 11.1 |
| Has another kind of disability or long-term health condition | 22.2 |
| Prefer not to say | 5.6 |
Just over a third of participants (37 per cent) said they were a carer.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Not a carer | 58.5 |
| Carer | 36.6 |
| Unknown | 4.9 |
| Total | 100 |
Most participants lived in an urban area (78 per cent). Around one in five participants lived in a rural area.[18]
| % | |
|---|---|
| Urban | 78.0 |
| Rural | 22.0 |
| Total | 100 |
Interview participants had experience of claiming or helping someone else to claim a wide range of benefits. Table B8 shows benefit experience for Experience Panels participants. The most common benefits claimed were Disability Living Allowance (71 per cent) and Personal Independence Payment (64 per cent).
| % | |
|---|---|
| Disability Living Allowance | 71.4 |
| Personal Independence Payment | 64.3 |
| Winter Fuel Payment | 64.3 |
| Cold Weather Payment | 50.0 |
| Carer's Allowance | 28.6 |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 28.6 |
| Discretionary Housing Payment | 21.4 |
| Universal Credit | 21.4 |
| Attendance Allowance | 14.3 |
| Scottish Welfare Fund | 14.3 |
Table B9 shows benefit experience for Client Panels interview participants. The most common benefit claimed by was Best Start Grant/Foods (60 per cent).
| % | |
|---|---|
| Best Start Grant/Foods | 60.0 |
| Carer's Allowance Supplement | 56.0 |
| Funeral Support Payment | 24.0 |
| Young Carer Grant | 20.0 |
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