Social Security Experience Panels: meeting people's needs - report

Introduction

The Scottish Government is becoming responsible for some of the benefits currently delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. 

As part of the work to prepare for this change, the Scottish Government set up the Social Security Experience Panels. Over 2,400 people from across Scotland who have recent experience of at least one of the benefits coming to Scotland registered as Experience Panel members during the launch in 2017. The Scottish Government is working with Experience Panel members to design a new social security system that works for the people of Scotland, based on the principles of Dignity, Fairness and Respect.

The Scottish Government is working with Experience Panel members to design a new social security system that works for the people of Scotland.  From February to April 2020, Experience Panel members were invited to take part in research to explore how Social Security Scotland can support clients' disability, accessibility, and other needs.  This work was part of the Scottish Government's Social Security Experience Panels programme of research. In total, 234 Experience Panel members chose to complete the survey and 30 panel members took part in focus groups. This report details the findings and key themes that emerged from this work.  All quotes are from panel members taken from the survey responses.