Social Security Experience Panels: applications and access to support

Background

The Scottish Government is becoming responsible for some of the benefits currently delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). As part of the work to prepare for this change, the Scottish Government set up the Social Security Experience Panels. Over 2,400 people who have recent experience of at least one of the benefits that will be devolved to Scotland registered to join the Experience Panels. The Scottish Government is working with Experience Panel members to design a new social security system that works for the people of Scotland.

Panel members were invited to take part in a series of surveys and focus groups to help inform the Scottish Government’s approach to setting up the new social security agency, Social Security Scotland. This report covers the analysis of one of these surveys, which was carried out in July and August 2018. It also includes analysis of five focus groups which took place in August 2018.

Participants were asked how Social Security Scotland should keep people up to date with information about their application. They were also asked what sort of support people would want Social Security Scotland to tell them about, as well as how Social Security Scotland can make it simple for people to access other support and services that may be relevant to them.