Ill Health and Disability Benefits Stakeholder Reference Group

Overview

The Ill Health and Disability Benefits Stakeholder Group was set up in March 2016 to inform and influence the development of policy options relating to disability and ill health social security benefits (DLA, PIP, AA and SDA).

These options will inform advice to Ministers to support the implementation of Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. 

The group advises on:

• the evidence base for policy decisions
• potential impact of policy decisions
• user and stakeholder engagement
• fit with the wider public sector landscape
• interaction with wider Scottish and UK social security benefits

Governance

The work of the Group will inform advice to Scottish Ministers, and feed into the Social Security Programme Management structure through the relevant policy project. The policy project is one strand of the Social Security Programme, which has overall responsibility for the successful devolution of social security policy and delivery. Other projects focus on legislation, delivery option and data.

Terms of engagement

Minutes outlining key discussion items, decisions and actions will be taken of meetings and published online. Chatham House rules may apply. This will be agreed in advance of some discussions. Where Group papers are confidential this will be made clear to members.

All members are participating in the group as representatives of their organisation/profession.

The Scottish Government Ill Health and Disability Benefits Policy Unit will Chair and provide secretariat support to the Group.

Members

• Meg Sydney, Chair, Scottish Government
• Pauline Nolan, Inclusion Scotland
• Dr Rianna Price, Inclusion Scotland
• Moira Escreet, Child Poverty Action Group
• Ali Lord, Child Poverty Action Group
• Dr Emelia Crichton, Director of Public Health, NHS
• Gerard McFeely, Occupational Therapy, NHS Lothian
• Gill Young, Places for People
• Jim Hume, Support in Mind Scotland
• Margaret Kane-Dickson, Public Health Scotland
• Richard Gass, Rights Advice Scotland
• Emma Jackson, Citizens Advice Scotland
• Kirstie Henderson, The Royal National Institute of Blind People, Scotland
• Ed Gordon, COSLA
• Duncan McIntyre, Chair of the Learning Disability Practice Network
• Dr Mini Mishra, Scottish Government
• Neil Gibson, Social Work Scotland

Publications