Posted : 10/03/2017

A new recruitment drive to find 2,000 individuals who have had “real life experience” of claiming social security benefits in the last 12 months has been launched by the Scottish Government.

Following the transfer of more powers to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Government will be responsible for creating and administering a new social security system in Scotland.

The Experience Panels are open to anyone who has applied for or received any of the following benefits in the last 12 months:

• Disability and ill-health benefits (including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments, Attendance Allowance, Severe Disablement Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit)
• Carer’s Allowance
• Benefits that are part of the Regulated Social Fund (Funeral Expenses Payments, Sure Start Maternity Grants, Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments)
• Discretionary Housing Payments and the Scottish Welfare Fund
• Universal Credit (the Scottish Government will become responsible for some administrative powers over Universal Credit)

We would encourage people with MND, and their carers, to join the experience panels so that their views and opinions can help shape the future social security system in Scotland.

In 2016 MND Scotland responded to the Scottish Government’s social security consultation and launched a call to action for people with MND to have automatic and life-long entitlement to benefits, without assessment. MND Scotland will continue to campaign for a social security system which treats people with fairness, dignity and respect.

To find out more about the experience panels, including details on how to register, click here.