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NAWRA’s letter to the Scottish government

NAWRA has co-signed a letter urging the Scottish Government to bring forward the introduction of the income supplement for low income families.

NAWRA’s representative for Scotland, Craig Samuel, said:

“To date Scottish Government have achieved so much with Social Security however if we do not use the powers and mandates, we fought so long for, then it will be a sad indictment on us as a people. If we don’t do more to reduce child poverty, reduce adverse childhood experiences then ultimately we shall be limiting the dreams and ambitions of families and children living in poverty in Scotland so I on behalf of NAWRA advocate bringing forward the Income Supplement before 2022.”

Read the reply from Aileen Campbell MSP

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Fraudulent universal credit claims being made to obtain advance payments

NAWRA members have reported via the rightsnet discussion forum that clients have been
contacted by a loan company offering a ‘government grant’.

The loan company then takes information sufficient to verify ID and submit a universal credit claim without the client’s knowledge, arranges an advance and then keeps a substantial amount of it for themselves. The first the client knows is their legacy benefits have stopped, and they find they are now a universal credit claimant with a large advance to repay that they did not receive.

NAWRA has written to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Amber Rudd with our recommendations to prevent this fraudulent activity.

Read our letter and the reply.

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Date of claim for UC – NAWRA’s letter to the secretary of state for work and pensions

NAWRA members have raised concerns about the date of claim for universal credit claimants who access universal credit via the Help to Claim service operated by Citizens Advice.

NAWRA has written to Amber Rudd, secretary of state for work and pensions to ask for clarity on the government’s position.

We received a disappointing reply and we responded on 20 June.

The latest reply from Amber Rudd (12 July) does not address our points.

Please send any comments to daphne@nawra.org.uk

 

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Improving Disability Assistance in Scotland

NAWRA has submitted a detailed response to the recent consultation on ‘Improving Disability Assistance in Scotland’.

In time Disability Assistance will replace Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance as per devolved powers covered in Section 31 of Social Security Act (Scotland) 2018.

The points covered in our submission include:

  • It is welcomed from Scottish Government that Disability Assistance will be paid to aged 18 but we would extend this further for children and extend to aged 19 or end of non-advanced education, especially if already in payment through PIP
  • 50 metre test for mobility
  • Minimum assessments and only when required and should always be people centered
  • Introduction of safeguarding
  • Increase in independent advice provision as in accordance with our social security bill and charter

Our NAWRA rep in Scotland, Craig Samuel, said:

“At NAWRA we welcome a more inclusive and generous approach by Scottish Government and, in line with our charter, an increase in advice provision and kindness. But we still have a lot of hurdles to overcome before we can relax.

 

We must get payments made as quickly as possible to ensure we give the best opportunity of success to people living in Scotland; to reduce poverty levels, reduce isolation and reduce adverse childhood experiences.

 

We must also keep open all our channels of dialogue especially when we are relying on a safe and secure transfer from London. On behalf of NAWRA, I look forward to participating in future developments and hearing from our Cabinet Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville as our key note speaker on 13th September when we have our annual Scottish conference in Edinburgh.”

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