Summary

  • The Social Security Committee takes evidence from benefits claimants who took part in the 'Your Say' project

  • MSPs quiz Nicola Sturgeon during first minister's questions

  • Labour MSP Alex Rowley leads a debate calling for a stop to the accelerated roll-out of Universal Credit

  • MSPs continue to debate the programme for government

  1. Inclusion Scotland eventpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Labour MSP Pauline McNeill and SNP MSP Ruth Maguire will now report back to the committee on the Inclusion Scotland event they attended on 16 August.

    Click here for their paper., external

  2. That concludes the 'Your Say' evidence sessionpublished at 10:30 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    WitnessesImage source, bbc

    Committee convener Sandra White thanks the witnesses for their presentation.

    Norman Gray thanks the committee for hearing their evidence.

  3. 'It must be recognised that illnesses are a bit of a rollercoaster'published at 10:29 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says there will be winners and losers by moving DLA to PIP.

    Ms Sinclair says "it must be recognised that illnesses are a bit of a rollercoaster."

    'Your Say' witness Brian Hurton says some of the everyday difficulties he faces, such as shaving, are not recognised.

    Mr Hurton says he finds if difficult washing and shaving and could easily cut himself but there are "no points for that".

    He says he is anxious about being reassessed.

  4. The real problem with PIP is how assessments and awards that have been donepublished at 10:27 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Norman Gray says PIP is a broader base than DLA was and it has different criterion.

    Mr Gray says the real problem with PIP is how assessments and awards that have been done.

    He says PIP itself is fairer than DLA was, mentioning his son who was treated better under PIP.

  5. Background: Thousands have disability vehicles taken awaypublished at 10:25 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Disabled parkingImage source, g

    In April we reported that more than 50,000 disabled people have had specially adapted vehicles taken away since changes to disability benefits in 2013.

    The Motability scheme entitles disabled people to lease a specially adapted new car, scooter or powered wheelchair using part of their benefit.

    But the charity says that 51,000 people have had vehicles taken away since the benefits system was changed in 2013.

    The government says there are more people on the scheme now than in 2010.

    Changes to the assessment process came in five years ago when personal independence payments (PIPs) were launched to replace the disability living allowance (DLA).

    Read more here.

  6. 'Sensible' to continue benefit during appeal processpublished at 10:24 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair

    SNP MSP George Adam says he agrees with the comments on language because if benefit recipients were truly "customers" they could take their business elsewhere but that cannot happen with social security.

    Mr Adam says the system does not currently have dignity and respect because it is "putting people's lives into turmoil".

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says during the appeal process a benefit should be continued because that is more sensible.

  7. Respite for young carerspublished at 10:20 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Tory MSP Adam Tomkins says the first minister is not talking anymore about young carers allowance but rather a package of support for young carers.

    Mr Tomkins asks what package of support the witnesses have in mind.

    Norman Gray says young carers need mental respite.

    Mr Gray says his granddaughter who cares for his daughter has been away for two weeks which is important.

  8. 'if I lay in my bed every day because I was too sore, I'd be better off'published at 10:19 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair
    Image caption,

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair

    Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asks what the 'Your Say' witnesses want from a PIP system in Scotland because it sounds as if they want it to be based on medical diagnosis.

    Mr Tomkins says his understanding is that PIP should be based on assessment of need rather than medical diagnosis.

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says "there needs to be must more emphasis placed on a medical diagnosis" because this is currently being forgotten.

    Ms Sinclair says "if I lay in my bed every day because I was too sore, I'd be better off which seems bizarre."

  9. The member's debate calling for the halt to UC roll out kicks off at 12.45pm.......published at 10:17 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  10. Prosecution of fraudulent claimspublished at 10:15 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Labour MSP Mark Griffin says if the state want to prosecute someone for a fraudulent claim then they must prove there was dishonesty.

    Mr Griffin says the proposal for Scotland would remove that need.

    Moira Sinclair says this did not come up in the group but she says this sounds overly harsh and it should be looked at.

  11. 'Life can move quite far down the road before the appeal decision is made'published at 10:15 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witnesses

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says "life can move quite far down the road before the appeal decision is made" and it cannot go back the way.

    Labour MSP Mark Griffin says there has been a concern raised that claimants could be criminalised for making a fraudulant claim when this could be an honest mistake.

    Mr Griffin says with the UK system, a prosecutor must prove that the claimant has committed fraud but that burden of proof does not exist in Scotland.

  12. DWP language 'very demeaning'published at 10:09 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Mr Hurton says he finds the language used by the DWP in relation to claimants "very demeaning".

    He says that he should not be referred to as a "customer" because he is "a patient of the state".

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says it is about giving people assistance to get them to the same level as everyone else.

  13. 'It is very stressful to constantly get forms back'published at 10:06 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witness Brian Hurton

    'Your Say' witness Brian Hurton says "it is very stressful to constantly get forms back".

    Mr Hurton says there should be smaller forms for changes.

    He says people do not need to be constantly reassessed.

    'Your Say' witness Norman Gray says there are issues where assessments are being made without any access to medical records.

  14. Language that the normal person can understand should be used says witnesspublished at 10:04 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Moira SinclairImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Moira Sinclair

    Moira Sinclair says there should be a simplification of the process in general.

    Ms Sinclair says it is an arduous and complex process to apply for benefits at the moment.

    Language that the normal person can understand should be used, she says.

  15. Recipient told that only those with learning difficulties can access advocacy supportpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witnesses
    Image caption,

    'Your Say' witnesses

    Green MSP Alison Johnstone asks what discussions have been held over the complexity of the system and asks how easy it has been for people to access advocacy and support.

    'Your Say' witness Brian Hurton says he was told that you have to have learning difficulties to get advocacy support and that it should be more widespread.

    'Your Say' witness Norman Gray says that his daughter had issues with the form and was supported by the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

    Mr Gray says there was an issue attending the meetings because CAB could not attend and he went as his daughters advocacy.

  16. Brexit negotiations evidence sessionpublished at 10:03 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  17. Witnesses back proposal to end private contractors carrying out assessmentspublished at 10:00 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says she wants to know from the minister why ending the use of private contractors is not on the face of the bill.

    Brian Hurton says assessments should be in public hands because private contractors are only out for profit and a lot of people had really bad experiences.

    Norman Gray says when assessments are out of private contractors' hands there is consistency of approach.

    Mr Gray says his daughter, who had a head injury, received treatment from private contractor assessors that was "very inhuman, very unfair in what she was asked".

  18. Standing at the bus stop could cause real issues if recipient loses mobility carpublished at 09:59 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Ms Sinclair says she receives DLA for mobility but nothing for care and now she is concerned that, under PIP, she will lose more such as the mobility car.

    Labour MSP Pauline McNeill asks what effect that will have on Ms Sinclair.

    Ms Sinclair says she can get public transport, such as a bus, but the issue is standing at the bus stop and the difficulties that will cause.

    She says it will cause issues for her getting to and from work.

  19. Lifetime awardspublished at 09:57 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    Brian HurtonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Brian Hurton

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour asks if there is evidence where people were not getting lifetime awards.

    Brian Hurton says he is on DLA and is waiting to go onto PIP, but he does not know what will happen.

  20. Concern over separate blue badge assessment under PIPpublished at 09:56 British Summer Time 7 September 2017

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair

    Tory MSP Jeremy Balfour says the regulations are different for DLA and PIP and asks how someone can be transferred across without reassessment when this is the case.

    Mr Balfour says his understanding is that a test for a blue badge and PIP is different and asks why Ms Sinclair is concerned that she may lose her badge.

    'Your Say' witness Moira Sinclair says at the moment she gets the badge automatically in receipt of DLA whereas, under PIP, she will now have to go through a separate assessment for the badge.

    'Your Say' witness Norman Gray says there are concerns over PIP and the criteria for certain mental illnesses.