Social Security Experience Panels - panel members: full report - 2020 update
This report provides demographic information about the Social Security Experience Panels. It also summarises feedback from panel members about their experiences of being a member of the panels and how this could be improved.
Experience of benefits
New panel members
We asked new panel members about their experience of different benefits. 322 people responded in this question.[22]
Respondents include those who are currently, or have previously, applied, got, challenged or appealed a decision for one of the relevant benefits, including those who have helped someone else. It should be noted that many people on the panel have experience of more than one benefit, particularly with the transition from DLA to PIP.
| Benefit | Number of respondents | % respondents |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Living Allowance | 131 | 41% |
| Personal Independence Payments | 231 | 72% |
| Carer’s Allowance | 107 | 33% |
| Winter Fuel Payments | 81 | 25% |
| Cold Weather Payments | 71 | 22% |
| Discretionary Housing Payments | 44 | 14% |
| Attendance Allowance | 42 | 13% |
| Universal Credit | 58 | 18% |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 26 | 8% |
| Scottish Welfare Fund | 38 | 12% |
| Funeral Expenses Allowance | 14 | 4% |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | 10 | 3% |
| Carer’s Allowance (Supplement) | 68 | 22% |
| Best Start Grant | 26 | 8% |
All panel members
Across a number of different ‘About You’ surveys we have asked the Experience Panels’ membership about benefit experience.[23] Carers Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grant were added in later surveys, as these are new payments being delivered by Social Security Scotland which did not exist when the Experience Panels started in 2017.
| Benefit | Number of respondents | % respondents |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Living Allowance | 942 | 61% |
| Personal Independence Payments | 1081 | 70% |
| Carers Allowance | 578 | 37% |
| Winter Fuel Payments | 481 | 31% |
| Cold Weather Payments | 451 | 29% |
| Discretionary Housing Payments | 339 | 22% |
| Attendance Allowance | 274 | 18% |
| Universal Credit | 309 | 20% |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 235 | 15% |
| Scottish Welfare Fund | 255 | 16% |
| Funeral Expenses Allowance | 124 | 8% |
| Sure Start Maternity Grant | 104 | 7% |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit** | 68 | 6% |
| Carer’s Allowance Supplement* | 68 | 4% |
| Best Start Grant* | 26 | 2% |
There were some differences in the levels of benefit experience reported in 2018 and 2020. Among panel members that we hold information on about benefit experience, there was a slight descrease since 2018 in those saying they had experience of Disability Living Allowance.
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