Guidance for third parties who provide medical or supporting evidence for clients: FOI release

Information requested

Guidance for third parties who provide medical or supporting evidence for clients regarding the format or presentation of supporting documents.

Response

Thank you for your request. When supporting information is requested, the documents to be submitted will vary depending on the content and source of the information.

Where Social Security Scotland have requested an individual or organisation complete a Supporting Information Request Form, every effort should be made to comply with that request, including completing the form in its original format. Any supporting information provided in addition to this form is not required to be sent in any particular format or presentation.

However, it is important that any documents submitted clearly state the information being provided in relation to the application and, if the supporting information provided is from a professional, it should clearly provide details of the professional sending in this supporting information. For example, letters should come on headed paper, where possible.

General guidance for persons who have been asked to provide supporting information, including third sector organisations, is available on our website here:

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/guidance-resources/guidance

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/guidance-resources/guidance/supporting-information-third-sectororganisations-guidance-for-supporting-information-requests

Our Local Delivery Teams are also available to support clients and have established a strong working relationship with the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Further to this, while our Local Delivery teams provide support to local CABs our National Engagement and Partnership Team are in regular conversation with Citizen’s Advice Scotland (CAS) about existing and future benefits. The Team meet monthly with CAS to share information and feedback about emerging issues arising from Social Security Scotland’s benefits. Citizen’s Advice Scotland are also members of our Operational Reference Group, a group of stakeholders who bring expert knowledge and an understanding of delivering services to the people of Scotland, helping us to deliver services in a way that meets Our Charter commitments.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.