The impact of welfare reform in Scotland - tracking study - Sweep 3 report

Graham, Helen; Egdell, Valerie; McQuaid, Ronald; Raeside, Robert

Abstract

The aim of the study is to explore the impact of on-going welfare changes on a range of households in Scotland over time. This report provides the findings from the first three sweeps of interviews, conducted between September 2013 and March 2015.The study highlights a number of issues respondents encountered in dealing with the benefits system, including: poor communications from benefits agencies; official errors and delays; difficulties with work capability assessments for disabled participants; and a lack of support in accessing work to balance increased conditionality. Research participants, including those in work, found themselves in very difficult financial situations, where small changes to entitlements or temporary delays had significant negative impacts. Respondents felt an underlying sense of precariousness and many lived with a constant fear of further change. Respondents accessed a range of support services and these were generally highly valued. However, some services were more trusted than others, and there was variation in service quality. The report makes a number of specific recommendations for services based on best practice.

Citation

Graham, H., Egdell, V., McQuaid, R., & Raeside, R. (2015). The impact of welfare reform in Scotland - tracking study - Sweep 3 report

• Report Type: Project Report
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Oct 12, 2015
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• ISBN: 9781785443855
• Keywords: Legislative reform; welfare; Scotland; social welfare and services; Scottish Government
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9143
• Publisher URL: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/7394