Welfare reform: impact report on benefits for disabled people

1. Introduction

Since 2013 the Scottish Government has produced a series of annual reports examining the impacts of UK Government welfare reforms on people in Scotland. In 2017 a supplementary report was published focusing on the effect of welfare reforms on disabled people^[18]. This report updates that analysis by focusing on new evidence which has become available.

Several welfare reforms over recent years have made it more difficult for many disabled people to access the support they need. This report examines the impacts of the introduction of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for working-age disabled people, how disability benefits are changing for children and older people, and the changes in means-tested benefits for disabled people. It also draws on evidence from surveys reporting people’s lived experience. The report concludes with discussion of the Scottish Government’s approach to providing disability benefits and policies to support disabled people.