Social Security Committee launches inquiry into benefit take-up

The Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee has launched an inquiry into benefit take-up and has put out a call for evidence.

On 5 September 2019, the committee held a roundtable discussion with several organisations to explore the issue of benefit take-up. To develop the themes that the committee heard at this meeting, it is asking for views on any of the following questions:

1. What is known about how much is unclaimed and why?
2. What are the gaps in knowledge/research and how can they be improved?
3. How can the administration of benefits be improved to maximise take-up? Specific examples would be welcomed.
4. How far is it possible for technology to create a more automated system, that uses information gathered for other reasons to award benefits automatically? What would the advantages/disadvantages be of greater automation?
5. What can be learnt from previous campaigns to increase take-up? Specific examples of projects or approaches that improved benefit take-up, particularly those that were evaluated, would be welcomed.
6. Are different approaches required for different benefits and different client groups?
7. What kinds of eligibility criteria ensure better take-up?
8. How might the development of Scottish social security impact on take-up of both reserved and devolved benefits?
9. Are there other questions the committee should consider as part of this inquiry?

The deadline for submissions is Monday 21 October. SFHA intends to submit evidence and is holding a roundtable on Monday 23 September to gather views of members.

The roundtable discussion will be held in the SFHA offices at 149 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow between 10:30 and 12:30. If you would like to attend the roundtable, or if you would like to provide evidence for the SFHA submission, please contact SFHA Policy Lead Jeremy Hewer (jhewer@sfha.co.uk).