Publications

The last year has shown the vital importance of our social security safety net. However, Universal Credit (UC) is unlikely to feature in the Government’s legislative agenda tomorrow. This risks missing lessons from the pandemic. While UC survived the influx of new claimants—in part by easing verification procedures and conditionality—fundamental aspects of its design have continued to put people in hardship. Reform is urgently needed so people have security and support as furlough is withdrawn and the economy reopens.

CAS is calling for:

› A review of UC’s adequacy as an in- and out-of-work benefit, with the £20 a week uplift made permanent

› Restoration of Work Allowances for all people on UC and a review of the Taper Rate

› The continued suspension of the Minimum Income Floor, with permanent changes to how self-employed income is assessed for UC going forward

› The introduction of a non-repayable assessment period payment to replace the current five week wait and Advance Payment system

› The ending of sanctions and unaffordable deductions

› Wider access to offline options for making and maintaining a UC claim and the introduction of implicit consent for CAB and other welfare rights advisers

› A fair, flexible, and safe transition to UC for those on legacy benefits, with an extension of the uplift and freedom to return to legacy benefits if UC entitlement is lower

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has responded to a consultation by the Scottish Civil Justice Council. The consultation sought views on recent Rule changes which made use of Civil Online Mandatory for Simple Procedure cases.

CAS's work on Access to Justice issues aims to ensure that consumers can access legal services and make effective and informed choices about legal issues. We support the development of new and simplified ways of accessing Court services. However, this must not come at the expense of channel choice. We have concerns that the Rule change may have had the effect of excluding party litigants and unrepresented people from the system. We would therefore support additional efforts to ensure inclusivity for those who are digitally excluded. We also have a number of wider suggestions to make in relation to potential reform of the Rules.  

Regulation of Scotland’s non-household water market is seeking to move service providers towards operating ‘ethically’. This will better ensure that the market consistently delivers benefits in a way that protects users’ trust and confidence, and safeguards the market’s reputation.

Some licensed providers choose to operate using the services offered by third party intermediaries (TPIs), which are unregulated. 

CAS is of the view that the application of ethical behaviour should apply across the supply chain to ensure positive outcomes for all non-household customers, no matter who they do business with.

The Scottish Campaign for Rights to Social Security (SCoRSS) believe it is time for a social security system that prevents poverty, treats people with dignity and respect and supports everyone to flourish.

However, access to and experience of social security are greatly affected by deeply ingrained inequalities that ensure that groups including women, disabled people, Black and minority ethnic people and others are even more affected by poverty, insecurity and exclusion.

The members of the Scottish Campaign on Rights to Social Security (SCoRSS) believe five fundamental principles underpin the real change required to achieve this vision.

We must work together to:

• „  Increase social security payment rates to a level where no one is left in poverty and all have sufficient income to lead a dignified life;

• „  Make respect for human rights and dignity the cornerstone of UK and Scottish social security;

• „  Radically simplify social security to ensure it is easy to access and that barriers to entitlement are removed;

• „  Invest in the support needed to enable everyone to participate fully in society; and

• „  Make social security work for Scotland.

From March 2020 to January 2021, Citizens Advice Bureaux have provided over 131,000 pieces of advice on Universal Credit (UC).

› The £20 a week uplift brought the value of UC back in line with increases to the cost of living over the past 8 years, following years of below inflation increases and freezes.
› If the £20 weekly increase is removed, UC will be worth 11.5% less in real terms than it was when introduced in 2013.
› The uplift increases the number of CAB clients with complex debt needs who are able to meet essential living costs by 28%.
› Without the uplift, nearly 6 in 10 (58%) of CAB complex debt clients will be unable to meet essential living costs.
› If the uplift is removed, 60,000 people in Scotland including 20,000 children will be pushed into poverty.

CAS is calling for: The £20 a week UC uplift to be made permanent in the March 3rd Budget.

The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2021 increases social security payments by the rate of CPI inflation (0.5%) from 1st April 2021. CAS welcome any increase to social security payments including Universal Credit (UC). However, current legislation prevents the future of the temporary £20 a week uplift to Universal Credit (UC) from being included in this annual review of benefit rates – at a time when uncertainty around the future of the £20 uplift is growing. Due to the benefits freeze from 2016 to 2019, UC rates remained at 2015/16 levels, meaning that in real terms the value of social security payments have fallen.

If the £20 a week uplift to UC is not made permanent, any inflation-related uprating is negated. People on UC are at risk of a serious shock to their income, including the millions claiming for the first time as a result of the pandemic. To avoid a rise in poverty, greater strains on public services and harming economic recovery, the £20 a week uplift must be maintained.