UK Government 'must take Scottish approach to disability payments'

The National

4 days ago

Welcome to this week's Branch Office Updates! Subscribe (for free) by clicking on the linked banner above.
A PROMINENT disability campaigner has called for the UK Labour Government to take the 'more humane' approach Scotland is taking with disability payments.
It comes after the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill passed its first hurdle on Tuesday.
When the legislation was first announced, it included measures to limit eligibility for Pip, the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and freeze the health-related element of universal credit.
But a huge backbench rebellion saw the changes to Pip stripped from the legislation with a review commissioned.
The so-called Timms review is expected to report next autumn after consulting with the disabled community and stakeholders.
READ MORE: Faslane nuclear base radioactive secrets to be released after FoI battle
That same day, Marylynne Hunter – an ex-Labour member and activist who resigned in March – told The National that she received a call from Social Security Scotland, who administers the devolved Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Child Disability Payment.
Her daughter Freya has severe complex health problems and disabilities, is non-verbal and blind and requires full-time oxygen and at-home nursing care.
'The guy from Social Security Scotland was amazing. They actually spoke to me with dignity and respect,' she said.
'And I was part of those consultations way back with (former minister for equalities) Jeane Freeman in the Scottish Parliament talking about the way in which you're spoken to by people down in Westminster sometimes before it was devolved and it could be quite distressing.'
Hunter added: 'But this guy was brilliant. The dignity and respect part is there, you know, it's completely there. It was actually a really nice meeting, and he met Freya online and everything and he was lovely.'
(Image: Marylynne Hunter)
She also said that with the Scotland's Child Disability Payment, with someone with Freya's condition, they won't have to reapply for the Adult Disability Payment – an aspect which would have been the case if she was applying for PiP.
'She'll just naturally go to the next stage of Adult Disability Payment without any big forms or anything,' Hunter said.
'It's just a wee form that you have to fill in because she's not going to get better. So, that's the Scottish way of doing it. But if it had been the English way of doing it, I would have had to have reapplied. I would have had to have applied for Pip for Freya. And it would have been horrific.'
She added: 'It's that whole thing about having to do that big massive form again and talk about what she can't do. I'd rather talk about what she can do, because that's distressing when I have to talk about what Freya needs in terms of her medical care. It's horrific. I don't want to be reminded of that because it's really difficult for me to deal with.'
'The Scottish Government do it in a really good way where they take all the information from the GP and consultants and they don't put you through that torture.'
Hunter went on: 'You know what, that's the power of consultation with people who are on the ground with lived experience. The Scottish Government did that, they've consulted with people who are actually accessing these benefits.
'They've done it right.'