Social Security Experience Panels: who is in the panels

About the respondents

Age and Gender

Questions on age and gender were asked in both the 2017 "About Your Benefits and You" survey, and the 2018 "About You" survey. The information presented in this section reflects the combined data available about panel member's age and gender across both surveys. 63 per cent of these respondents identified as "female" or as a "woman/ girl", 35 per cent as "male" or as a "man/boy". Fewer than 10 of these respondents identifed in another way so unfortunately information about this group cannot be published to avoid the possibility of individuals being identified.

One per cent of these respondents preferred not to say their gender, and one per cent did not complete this question. Due to the small number of people who responded this way, the breakdown of these groups by age have not been included in the table below.

Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of respondents were over the age of 45. A quarter (26 per cent) were over the age of 60. Table 1 provides an overview of respondents by age and gender.

Table 1: Complete respondents by age and gender (n=1272)

	Female	% Female	Male	% Male
15 or under	<10	0%	0	0%
16-24	10	1%	<10	0%
25-44	201	16%	79	6%
45-59	384	30%	216	17%
60-79	188	15%	135	11%
80 or over	<10	0%	<10	0%
Total	795	63%	441	35%

Ethnic group

We asked panel members about their ethnicity during the 2018 "About You" survey. ^[1] 922 people responded to this question. As responses were low across a number of ethnic groups, these responses have been treated as "white ethnic groups", "minority ethnic groups" (non-white) and "prefer not to say".

Table 2: Respondents by ethnic group (n=922)

	Number of respondents	% respondents
White ethnic groups	883	96%
Minority ethnic groups	22	2%
Prefer not to say	17	2%

Religion and belief

We asked panel members about their religion and beliefs during the 2018 "About You" survey. 924 people responded to this question. 51 per cent of respondents said that they had no religion. 18 per cent said that they were Church of Scotland, and 11 per cent said they were Roman Catholic.

Table 3: Respondents by religion or belief group (n=924)

	Number of respondents	% respondents
None	469	51%
Church of Scotland	164	18%
Roman Catholic	105	11%
Other Christian	89	10%
Muslim	<10	1%
Buddhist	<10	1%
Jewish	<10	1%
Pagan	24	3%
Another religion or belief group	27	3%
Prefer not to say	25	3%

Sexual orientation and gender identity

We asked panel members about their sexual orientation and gender identity during the 2018 "About You" survey.

86 per cent of respondents identified as heterosexual or straight. Nine per cent identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual and two per cent identified in another way.

Table 4: Respondents by sexual orientation (n=925)

	Number of respondents	% respondents
Heterosexual/ straight	799	86%
Gay/ lesbian	46	5%
Bisexual	33	4%
Identify in another way	18	2%
Prefer not to say	29	3%

98 per cent of respondents said that they do not identify as trans. Less than 10 said that they do, and 2 per cent said that they would prefer not to say.

Disability and long term health conditions

Questions on disability and long term health conditions were asked in both the 2017 "About Your Benefits and You" survey, and the 2018 "About You" survey. The information presented in this section reflects the combined data available across both surveys.

83 per cent of respondents said that they had a disability or long term health condition.

More than half are physically disabled (53 per cent), suffer from chronic pain (52 per cent) or have another long term condition (56 per cent). Almost two in five (37 per cent) have a mental health condition. Table 5 provides details of respondents by disability or long term health condtion.

Table 5: Respondents by disability or long term health condition (n=1275 for all categories except mental health condition, mental health condition, n=1117)

	Number of respondents	% respondents
A physical disability	672	53%
Chronic pain lasting at least 3 months	669	52%
Another long-term condition	715	56%
Mental health condition	430	38%
Deafness or severe hearing impairment	113	10%
Blindness or severe vision impairment	86	7%
A learning disability	101	8%

In the 2018 "About You" survey, we also asked respondents about how their disability or health condition affects them.

Table 6: Respondents by disability or long term health condition (n= 742)

	Number of respondents	% respondents
Mobility (for example walking short distances or climbing stairs	570	77%
Stamina or breathing or fatigue	456	61%
Dexterity (for example lifting or carrying objects, using a keyboard)	345	46%
Memory	331	45%
Learning or understanding or concentrating	270	36%
Hearing (for example deafness or partial hearing)	107	14%
Socially or behaviourally (for example associated with Autism, attention deficit disorder or Asperger's syndrome)	100	13%
Vision (for example blindness or partial sight)	96	13%
Another way	59	8%
None of the above	26	4%

Caring responsibilities

Questions on caring responsibilities were asked in both the 2017 "About Your Benefits and You" survey, and the 2018 "About You" survey. The information presented in this section reflects the combined data available across both surveys.

49 per cent of respondents said that they have caring responsibilities and 49 per cent said they do not. The remaining respondents either stated that they prefered not to say, or did not respond to the question.

Of those who had caring responsibilities 24 per cent said that they cared for a child or children with a long-term physical condition, mental ill-health, or a disability. 77 per cent cared for an adult or adults with a long-term physical condition, mental ill-health, or a disability, and 35 per cent cared for an adult or adults who need support due to old age.

Experience of benefits

Questions on people's experiences of different benefits were asked in both the 2017 "About Your Benefits and You" survey, and the 2018 "About You" survey. Table 7 reflects the combined data available across both surveys.

Respondents include those who are currently, or have previously, applied, got, challenged or appealed a decision for one of the relevant benefits, including those who have helped someone else. It should be noted that many people on the panel have experience of more than one benefit, particularly with the transition for DLA to PIP.

Table 7: Respondents by benefit type (n=1275, IIDB, n=1,145)

Benefit	Number of respondents	% respondents
Disability Living Allowance	859	75%
Personal Independence Payments	849	74%
Carers Allowance	476	42%
Winter Fuel Payments	388	34%
Cold Weather Payments	379	33%
Discretionary Housing Payments	310	27%
Attendance Allowance	245	21%
Universal Credit	274	24%
Severe Disablement Allowance	222	19%
Scottish Welfare Fund	228	20%
Funeral Expenses Allowance	116	10%
Sure Start Maternity Grant	103	9%
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit	73	6%