Social Security Experience Panels - About Your Benefits and You: quantitative research findings

Summary Conclusion

The respondents to 'About Your Benefits and You' cover a wide range of demographics within the population. This includes by gender, age, and population area, as well as having a disability or long term health condition, additional support needs, or caring responsiblities.

The responses to the questionnaire indicate that three in five respondents would describe their experience of the exisiting benefits system as 'poor' or 'very poor'. This is higher amongest people under the age of 60, those living in areas of greater deprevation, and among those with a disability or long term health condition.

The priority areas for Scottish Government to improve the in the new social security system were relatively consistent across different demographic groups. 'Advice and support about claiming', 'applying for a benefit' and 'having a claim reconsidered or going to appeal' were consistenly the top three priorities across different demographic groups, althought there is some minor variations in the weight given to each of these areas.