West Lothian Council’s Anti-Poverty Service has a team working with the Social Security Scotland Agency on a new payment which will replace the UK wide Personal Independence Payment (PiP).
The new Adult Disability Payment began a national roll-out in August. In West Lothian a team within the Anti-Poverty Service which has already been working on other new Scottish welfare payments will act to help new applicants.
The new service has been described as "empathetic and supportive" rather "punitive and vindictive” - criticism which has been levelled at the current system.
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The Scottish Government is providing £134,000 funding to West Lothian Council to offset additional work associated with the new data sharing requirements.
Using the material provided by Social Security Scotland, the Anti-Poverty Service through the council’s social media platforms, regularly promote the Adult Disability Payment and the local help and support available for those considering making an application.
To help promote and raise awareness, an ‘ask the advisor’ session was undertaken in advance of the Adult Disability Payment going live. This session was undertaken on the council’s Facebook page promoting the support available which reached 14,602 people.
In a report to the council’s Corporate Policy and Resource Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel ( PDSP), Chris Nelson from the service said: “The team will ensure customers are able to access other benefits administered.”
A report to the committee added: "Working in partnership with Social Security Scotland Local Delivery Service, the Anti-Poverty Service is exploring further opportunities to undertake targeted campaigns to increase uptake of Adult Disability Payment.
"Social Security Scotland is a member of West Lothian’s Anti-Poverty Practitioners Network and Anti-Poverty Task Force and these groups will promote and raise awareness of all Social Security Scotland benefits and payments. "
It concluded: "The introduction of Adult Disability Payment will be a major change to the support offered to working age people with a disability or long-term ill-health issues.
"Partnership work with Social Security Scotland will help promote Adult Disability Payment and increase take-up. Adult Disability Payment will help those eligible increase their household income which is critical given the current cost of living crisis."
Councillor Lynda Kenna, (SNP) asked if the team would visit people at home to help with applications. Mr Nelson said council staff would, adding: “ Our service is very much about reaching those most in need.”
SNP Group leader Janet Campbell praised the efforts of the Anti-Poverty Service in provided help to applicants. She said that anti poverty campaigners had been unanimous in praising the efforts of Social Security Scotland.
“They have described the new service as empathetic and supportive rather than, as claimants have said about the Department of Work and Pensions, been punitive and vindictive.”
She asked if councillors could receive training in and updates in the new welfare payments as many constituents saw councillors as the front line when it came to making claims.
The meeting was told the training on the new welfare payments will take place for councillors this week.
Chairing the meeting council leader, Labour's Lawrence Fitzpatrick, urged claimants to seek the help “and expertise of our staff in the Advice shops”.
He added: “Since this new unitary authority was created we’re one of the few councils in Scotland that has an Advice Shop. In fact some council areas don’t even have a Citizens Advice bureau, and we have always funded it.
”Where people are infirm or severely disabled it is the case that officers will organise a home visit.
“If people decide to fill forms, it's so important to take advice on form completion from the Advice Shop staff, because they are the experts.”
He said to Mr Nelson: “We’d like to thank you and the staff in the Advice Shops for all the work that you do.”
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