A caring social security system. Two decades of welfare reform has warped our social security system, making it unfair and in some cases fostering insecurity and undermining people’s welfare. This is in direct opposition to the principles on which the system was founded. With a number of welfare benefits being devolved for the first time, Scottish Greens believe now is the time to radically re-found the benefits system in Scotland. This should start with the setting up of a Social Security Commission to explore and recommend the principles on which a Scottish benefits system should be established. The Commission will also consider how the benefits system can help to tackle inequality, how needs should be assessed, and how support should be delivered. Commissioners should be drawn from groups representing benefit claimants and welfare service users, as well as from local government and the third sector.
Real security for disabled people. The introduction of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has been ruinous for thousands of disabled people in Scotland, taking away much-needed support and putting them at risk of poverty. In advance of a total review of disability benefits, Scottish Greens will fight for all PIP claims to be granted initially to ensure disabled people receive immediate support, rather than facing delays of up to a year whilst awaiting a stressful and undignified assessment that treats claimants as guilty until proven innocent. Where additional evidence is required to make a decision on a claim, Scottish Greens will fight for paper, online or telephone procedures to be used rather than face-to-face assessments, unless a claimant requests one. We will also push for repeat assessments for people with chronic or degenerative illnesses with a low chance of improvement to be abolished, and for a minimum re-assessment period which would be decided between government, claimants and other stakeholders. Scottish Greens will also call for a review of DLA and PIP to examine the current stoppage of support during hospital stays, the appeals procedure and the PIP points assessment system.
Social security for women and children. The UK government’s agenda of welfare reform and cuts to public services has fallen disproportionately on women and children. House of Commons Library analysis shows that since 2010 between 70 and 80% of savings made by changes to benefits, taxation, pay and pensions have come from women’s incomes. We will advocate for the use of newly devolved powers and resources to help mitigate this inequality, including introducing a weekly top-up to Child Benefit. We will also address concerns around the delivery of the new Universal Credit by calling for splitting the benefit between partners and giving people the option to receive Universal Credit payments more frequently than once a month.
Ending the need for food banks. It's a national scandal that in Scotland in 2016, citizens cannot afford to eat due to reduced income. We will strengthen the Scottish Welfare Fund to enable rapid decisions to be made on applications, and use newly devolved power to support people who are left without income as a result of UK benefit delays. Scottish Greens will push for full devolution of social security powers to ensure no Scottish citizen is left without income and destitute.
