Question reference: S6W-27133
- Date lodged: 30 April 2024
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 May 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any (a) existing and (b) new claimants of the Adult Disability Payment will be affected by the UK Government's proposed reforms to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), in light of reports that some people with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety could be disadvantaged regarding financial support in some cases.
Answer
Last week I sought urgent clarity from the DWP that people receiving our Adult Disability Payment will not be penalised and will continue to automatically receive the reserved benefits that they rely on. I have also sought assurances from the UK Government it will not seek to impose any resultant cuts to expenditure on the Scottish Government.
The Scottish Government will never accept the cruel welfare reforms being pursued by the UK government. These punitive proposals will only further stigmatise and impoverish disabled people and have been rightly called out by stakeholders as a “reckless assault on disabled people”.
In contrast, Scotland’s social security system is designed on the principles of dignity, fairness and respect. Those are the values of this government, of the people of Scotland, because disability payments are there for all of us whenever we should need them. The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to deliver Adult Disability Payment in a compassionate and caring way.