SCOTLAND’S new welfare system must not treat job seekers like “a piece of dirt” according to a report from an influential Holyrood committee.
The study into the future delivery of social security in Scotland by the Scottish Parliament’s welfare reform committee says there needs to be a “huge culture shift” in how benefit advisers and the Government talk to those receiving benefits when the powers are devolved.
Currently, Holyrood is on course to have power over the frequency and the housing cost elements of Universal Credit payments.
Benefits for carers, disabled people and those who are ill will all be devolved to the Scottish Government. Although Jobcentre plus will be reserved to Westminster, employment programmes currently run by the Department of Work and Pensions, such as the Work Programme and Work Choice, will become the responsibility of Holyrood.
The Scottish Parliament will also have the power to create new benefits
This, the committee says, will be a massive challenge and an opportunity to end the “punitive” benefits system currently in place.
Criticising the current benefits system for seemingly being “designed for bureaucratic convenience”, the committee call for a “brand-new philosophy and set of principles” that is “person-centred” and “based upon preserving the dignity of, and showing respect for, claimants.”
This would involve introducing the principle of ‘passporting’ to the system, where claimants automatically qualify for all the benefit they’re eligible for, cutting down on bureaucracy.
The cross-party committee recommend sanctions, where claimants are denied payments for a set amount of time, “a last resort.” This MSPs warn could lead to tensions between Holyrood and the Department of Work and Pensions.
Hugh Henry MSP, the Labour convener of the committee said he and fellow members had spent the last three years hearing evidence about the “devastating impact of welfare reform.”
“Creating a better social security system for Scotland will probably be one of the biggest tasks facing Scotland over the next decade and it’s important that we get it right,” said Henry.
Social justice secretary Alex Neil promised that the Scottish Government would not “punish the vulnerable”.
“We agree with the Welfare Reform Committee that the current welfare system is in need of a significant overhaul,” Neil said. “Its comprehensive report supports our aims of ensuring our new social security powers will treat people with respect and dignity, and be delivered in a fair and efficient way.”
A DWP spokesperson said the UK Government were supporting people: “Our vital welfare reforms are restoring fairness to the system for claimants as well as the taxpayer. We are supporting working people by introducing a National Living Wage and increasing the personal allowance. This means that people going out to work can be sure they will be paid a decent wage and get to keep more of what they earn.
“In addition the UK Government continues to support millions of people on benefits with an £80bn working-age welfare safety net in place.”
Other recommendations in the committee’s report include the call on the Scottish Government to introduce long-term Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment awards for those with severe, long term disability or illness.
The committee backs the Scottish Government’s proposal to Increase Carer’s Allowance to at least the amount paid in jobseeker’s allowance, and for the government to reduce bureaucracy for carers.
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