ALLIANCE responds to DWP health and disability green paper
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 12th October 2021
The response highlights the importance of a human rights based approach to social security, informed by lived experience.
The ALLIANCE has responded to the health and disability green paper, published by the Department for Work and Pensions (this link will take you away from our website). The green paper explores how the welfare system can better meet the needs of disabled people and people with health conditions now and in the future, enabling people to live independently and move into work where possible.
Engagement with our members and people with lived experience of social security payments has consistently revealed that the process has been difficult and extremely stressful for many people, particularly when people are undergoing assessments for ill-health and disability payments.
With the devolution of powers over some social security payments for disabled people to the Scottish Parliament, the ALLIANCE has worked with partners to ensure that the design of the new Scottish social security system is rights based and informed by lived experience.
Our response sets out a range of recommendations to make UK social security services and support more accessible and inclusive. These include:
- Adopting a human rights based approach across the system, including paperwork and statements, assessment processes and decision making;
- Making forms, documents and guidance easily accessible, available in a range of inclusive formats, and written in plain English;
- Adopting the Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance’s ‘Principles, Standards and Code of Best Practice’ (this link will take you away from our website) as part of the development of advocacy support.
- That the UK Government work with the Scottish Government and local authorities in Scotland to pilot local Basic Income schemes. This should complement, rather than replace additional costs social security payments for disabled people, as described above.
- That the default position should be that all disability social security payments are made in cash rather than alternative support (excluding where this may apply to Motability arrangements).
You can read the full response via the link below.
End of page.
You may also like:
Healthcare Improvement Scotland want to hear from the voice of lived experience.
Continue readingThe Scottish AI Alliance is hosting the People’s AI Panel on Saturday 16 August 2025 in Glasgow.
Continue readingFunding & support available. Apply now for the 2026 GSK IMPACT Awards or Community Health Programme to boost your charity’s impact.
Continue readingAn independent analysis of over 100 responses to the Scottish Government consultation has been published.
Continue readingFind out more about how to get involved with SWAP (Scottish Wider Access Programmes)
Continue readingThe strategy aims to ensure that every young disabled person feels supported in the transition into adulthood.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE responds to a Scottish Government consultation on draft guidance for teachers
Continue readingThe new Leadership Success Profile is here; tools and support for leaders across Scotland’s care, health, and voluntary sectors.
Continue readingThe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine is being offered to people turning 75 and pregnant women.
Continue readingFind out more about Peace of Mind, a programme which supports disabled people at risk of social exclusion to re-engage with their community.
Continue readingThe paper sets out the Government's thoughts on the proposed Human Rights Bill.
Continue readingEvery Tuesday the Discover Digital team at the ALLIANCE shares a free and trusted digital tool that supports health and wellbeing.
Continue readingThe Poverty Alliance need your support in demanding change and marching alongside them in Edinburgh on 25 October.
Continue readingScottish Recovery Network are excited to launch a new programme of free Peer Connects learning events and webinars.
Continue readingProposals to cut disability payments and a lack of consideration for devolution are amongst the serious issues in the plans.
Continue readingThe Scottish Government has recognised a formal definition of Deafblindness.
Continue readingInclusion Scotland are recruiting adults with lived experience of social care support
Continue readingQualifications Scotland must think about the needs of pupils who use British Sign Language.
Continue readingThe Health, Social Care and Sport Committee is seeking views from both organisations and people with lived experience.
Continue readingTelecare users across the UK are encouraged to contact their network providers ahead of the digital switchover.
Continue readingMore than 100 charities unite to say Scottish MPs must stand against social security cuts.
Continue readingALLIANCE survey finds people are facing multiple barriers accessing SDS
Continue readingThe plan is intended to improve the lives of disabled people and put their experiences and concerns at the heart of policymaking.
Continue readingWomen's rights, health and human rights groups call for rejection of new police guidance on investigating pregnancy loss.
Continue readingA new community-led care initiative is launching in rural Perthshire and is looking for an inspiring leader to drive it forward.
Continue reading