A Scottish Social Security System For All?

14th February 2018

By Craig Smith, Public Affairs Officer

Last week the Work and Pensions Select Committee at Westminster published findings from its inquiry on Personal Independent Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) assessments.

The report describes claimant experience and supplements the committee’s full inquiry report which was published today (Thursday 14 February). [1] The inquiry found that current face to face assessments are “failing a substantial minority” of claimants.[2]  The experience of people with mental health problems was highlighted as a particular concern, with assessors lacking mental health expertise. This timely report reinforces the need for assessments to be handled radically better in the new Scottish Social Security System. Which is why SAMH is calling for the Social Security (Scotland) Bill to be amended to ensure assessors have professional experience of mental health when assessing applicants with a mental health problem.

The committee highlighted the problem of assessors lack of mental health experience when assessing someone with a mental health problem, leading to inaccuracies and at times stigmatising conduct by assessors.  These findings are supported by evidence that SAMH and our sister charity Mind submitted to the inquiry. People using our services told us assessors for PIP and ESA often lacked an  understanding of the impact of mental health. They also described the inability of face to face assessments’ to accurately determine the impact of fluctuating conditions, and stigmatising attitudes and behaviours by some assessors:

“I felt that the assessor saw me when I was fairly well and didn't take into account the change in how I feel. For example I have bipolar – how I am when I am feeling well is very different to times of crisis. I feel the questions asked were mainly about physical problems so someone with a mental health problem would struggle to meet the criteria.” – PIP recipient SAMH & Mind evidence[3]

The committee’s findings are damning, but we have an opportunity in Scotland to do things better. Power over non-income related disability benefits, including PIP, are being devolved to Scotland, with legislation setting up a Scottish Social Security System currently making its way through the Scottish Parliament. The findings of the Work and Pensions Select Committee add to the already substantial evidence that shows that disability benefits are not working for people with mental health problems.

This is why SAMH is supporting amendment 171 to the Social Security (Scotland) Bill that will ensure face to face assessments for disability assistance (currently PIP) in Scotland for someone with a mental health problem are carried out by an assessor with professional experience of mental health.  While we welcome the Government’s intention to reduce face to face assessments for disability benefits, this amendment is crucial to ensuring fairness and trust in the new Scottish system.^[4],^[5]. This amendment is due to be debated and voted on Thursday 22 February. We hope that the committee will support this crucial amendment which contributes towards making the Scottish social security system truly based around dignity, fairness and respect.