Experience panels: annual report 2018

Introduction

The Scottish Government is becoming responsible for some of the benefits previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As part of the work to prepare for this change, in Summer 2017 the Scottish Government set up the Social Security Experience Panels.

The Experience Panels are made up of over 2,400 people who have experience of at least one of the benefits that are being devolved to Scotland. The Scottish Government works with panel members to inform key decisions in the design of social security in Scotland. This is the first annual report for the Experience Panels programme of research. It aims to feed back to panel members and others interested in the work about what has been achieved this year and what is planned for 2019.

2018 has been the first full year of the Experience Panels work. In 2017 our focus was on launching the Experience Panels, recruiting panel members and undertaking our first research with all panel members 'About Your Benefits and You'^[1]. In 2018, with the panels fully up and running, we have worked with panel members across Scotland on a wide range of topics. We have also found out more about our panel members, and shared what panel members have told us both with panel members themselves and others interested in our work.

Already we are seeing the influence of what panel members have told us on how social security will be delivered by the new agency, Social Security Scotland. This annual report will summarise what we have done and found this year and the impact it has had, as well as outlining our plans for next year.