Our Man in Holyrood: Social security change is a step in the right direction because the 'the current DWP system is cruel and feared by many who rely on it'

I was pleased to note the unanimous approval of a new disability benefit for Scotland by Holyrood’s social justice and social security committee.

The new Adult Disability Payment, which will replace the DWP’s Personal Independence Payment, opens for applications on March 21 in pilot areas and national roll-out will commence on August 29.

The current DWP system is cruel and feared by many who rely on it. I, and my colleague MP Drew Hendry, have had countless constituents contact us fearing re-assessment or facing the complications of the private assessment process that takes place to determine someone’s capacity for receiving the benefit. The process is often dehumanising in the way it treats people in need. The process can be extremely distressing as someone must display their physical or mental disability and often the advice and expertise of medical professionals who have worked with individuals over years can be denied if there is a reason to believe they show capacity on the day of assessment.

Often the process will leave those in need without the financial support they require. We must aim to do better in Scotland, reject the tone of the previous heartless system and instead create a social security system which truly supports people in need, and this new disability payment will deliver a major change in how disabled people are treated when it comes to benefits.

It will lead with a positive and compassionate approach and I’m very pleased the committee has given it unanimous support.

The Scottish Government has transformed the process and I welcome their focus on delivering a person-centred process that puts dignity, fairness and respect at the heart of our social security system.

Of course, with the full powers of social security devolved to Scotland, we could rid ourselves of such pernicious systems and support those in our society who most need it.

In other health news, a greater range of mental health and wellbeing services will now be provided within GP practices and community settings, with an investment of up to £40 million a year.

Under the new system, patients who need mental health support will be able to access a range of professionals available through their local surgery, rather than having to rely on their GP referring them to other sources elsewhere.

These could include mental health nurses, psychologists, peer support workers, occupational therapists and link workers.

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