Social Security client and experience panels research: effects of the coronavirus pandemic on communication preferences
A report of findings from research with client and experience panels about communication preferences.
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Annex A: About survey respondents
Where possible, information from the survey was matched to demographic information supplied previously by participants. For Experience Panel members, information was matched to responses given in the 'About Your Benefits and You' and 'Social Security Experience Panels: Who is in the panels and their experiences so far' surveys.[9] For Client Panel members, information was matched to responses given in the 'Social Security Scotland Client Survey: 2018-2020'.[10]
The following demographic information is included to give context to the findings from the survey. Linking was not possible where there was missing or unclear information. The tables show proportions based on available information and the total number of respondents is given as (n) in the table title.
Two thirds of survey respondents (66 per cent) identified as female. One third (32 per cent) identified as male.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Female | 65.9 |
| Male | 31.9 |
| Other | 1.0 |
| Prefer not to say | 1.2 |
| Total | 100 |
Almost half of respondents (47 per cent) were aged 45 to 59. Around one fifth (23 per cent) were aged 44 or under and around a third (30 per cent) were aged 60 or over.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Under 25 | 1.5 |
| 25 – 44 | 21.4 |
| 45 – 59 | 46.6 |
| 60 – 79 | 29.7 |
| 80 or over | 0.2 |
| Prefer not to say | 0.5 |
| Total | 100 |
Almost all survey respondents were White (96 per cent). Around 3 per cent of respondents were from a minority ethnic group.[11]
| % | |
|---|---|
| White | 95.8 |
| Ethnic minority | 3.3 |
| Prefer not to say | 0.9 |
| Total | 100 |
Most respondents (78 per cent) had a disability or long-term health condition.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Has a disability or long-term health condition | 78.1 |
| No condition | 21.4 |
| Prefer not to say | 0.5 |
| Total | 100 |
More than half of respondents (53 per cent) had a mobility impairment. More than a third had a dexterity (39 per cent) or a memory (34 per cent) impairment.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Mobility impairment | 53.1 |
| Dexterity | 38.1 |
| Memory | 33.5 |
| Learning/understanding/concentration | 28.3 |
| Hearing | 10.1 |
| Vision | 7.6 |
| Social or behavioral | 2.2 |
| Stamina | 1.4 |
| Has another kind of disability or long-term health condition | 6.3 |
| Prefer not to say | 2.2 |
| None of the above | 0.3 |
Around half of respondents (46 per cent) said they were a carer.
| % | |
|---|---|
| Not a carer | 52.8 |
| Carer | 45.5 |
| Prefer not to say | 1.7 |
| Total | 100 |
Most survey respondents lived in an urban area (82 per cent).[14]
| % | |
|---|---|
| Urban | 81.8 |
| Rural | 18.2 |
| Total | 100 |
Survey respondents had experience of claiming or helping someone else to claim a wide range of benefits. Table A8 shows the totals for Experience Panels respondents. The most common benefits claimed were Personal Independence Payment (76 per cent) and Disability Living Allowance (63 per cent).
| % | |
|---|---|
| Personal Independence Payment | 75.6 |
| Disability Living Allowance | 62.9 |
| Carer's Allowance | 40.2 |
| Cold Weather Payment | 37.6 |
| Winter Fuel Payment | 37.6 |
| Discretionary Housing Payment | 23.9 |
| Universal Credit | 21.3 |
| Attendance Allowance | 18.7 |
| Scottish Welfare Fund | 17.0 |
| Severe Disablement Allowance | 15.5 |
| Best Start Grant/Foods | 2.0 |
Table A9 shows the totals for Client Panels respondents. The most common benefit claimed was Best Start Grant/Foods (71 per cent).
| % | |
|---|---|
| Best Start Grant/Foods | 71.4 |
| Carer's Allowance Supplement | 44.4 |
| Funeral Support Payment | 22.2 |
| Young Carer Grant | 9.5 |
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