Is the current benefits system in Scotland working?

MPs are looking for views on how welfare policy and funding is serving the people of Scotland

By MPs on the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee

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Published 19 October 2020

Published 19 October 2020

"Welfare provision is a critical lifeline when people fall on hard times... and times have got harder. Coronavirus has had a devastating impact on Scotland."
Pete Wishart MP, Chair

We want you to share your experience with the benefits system to aid our inquiry into how it works for the people of Scotland.

Since the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK the number of people claiming Universal Credit in Scotland has almost doubled to almost 474,000.

The crisis has also caused delays in the rollout of Scotland’s replacements for Personal Independence Payments and the start of Child Disability Payments.

Our Committee is investigating the effect of the benefits system on people’s lives and on levels of hardship in Scotland.

If you have experienced being on benefits, like Universal Credit, then we want to hear your answers to the questions below. The full instructions on how to submit your views are also below.

We want to hear from you

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Photo: Kane Reinholdtsen via Unsplash

Photo: Kane Reinholdtsen via Unsplash

We welcome views on the following areas

  1. What impact has UK welfare reform had on poverty & inequality in Scotland?
  2. How well is Universal Credit working in Scotland? Are there issues with Universal Credit that are specific to Scotland compared to the rest of the UK?
  3. What has been the effect of the introduction of full Universal Credit services in Scotland for claimants who previously received legacy benefits?
  4. Do people in Scotland benefit from the flexibility of having Universal Credit paid at a different frequency or to their landlord directly via the Scottish Choices system?
  5. How effective has cooperation been between the UK & Scottish Governments on the devolution of new welfare powers to Scotland?
  6. Why have there been delays in the administration of benefits, which has been devolved to Scotland via the Scotland Act of 2016? What have been the impacts of delays in the devolution of benefits administration?
  7. What changes might be necessary to help manage the transfer of claimants and data from the Department for Work & Pensions to Social Security Scotland?
  8. What impact could diverging welfare policies in Scotland and the rest on the UK have on welfare claimants in Scotland?
  9. What are the likely long-term impacts of coronavirus on the devolution of welfare?

How can I submit my views?

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Photo: Pexels

Photo: Pexels

The deadline for responses is
Wednesday 2 December 2020

Submit your views using our online portal

Instructions on how to submit your evidence to the Committee are available

Anyone can submit written evidence as long as the submission is clear, concise, addresses the questions asked and is not already published elsewhere.

Your submissions will inform the questions that we will put to experts and Ministers in both UK and Scottish Parliaments.

This is your chance to help inform the government and policy makers.

Scottish Affairs Committee

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Photo: Martin Zangerl via Unsplash

Photo: Martin Zangerl via Unsplash

We are the Scottish Affairs Committee, 11 MPs from different political parties.

We work together to scrutinise the expenditure, administration and policies of the Scotland Office, and its associated bodies.

We also examine the wider UK Government, to assess policies and legislation that lead to direct impacts on Scotland.

If you’re interested in our work, you can find out more on the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee website. You can also follow our work on Twitter.

Scottish Affairs Committee membership - link goes to page on committees.parliament.uk website

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