Written Question · S5W-30549 · Session 5
What consultation with advocacy providers it has had regarding the Independent Advocacy Service that it has set up to help disabled people …
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what consultation with advocacy providers it has had regarding the Independent Advocacy Service that it has set up to help disabled people access social security benefits, and how this differed from the Provision of Social Security Advocacy Services tender DEC375404, which sought a service provider to coordinate and manage a new demand-led service for advocacy support for disabled people requiring an advocate’s help to interact with the social security system
The answer
The rescheduling of the introduction of disability benefits as a result of Coronavirus meant that it was necessary to end the tendering exercise which was being undertaken for the provision of a comprehensive advocacy service before it had been concluded.
However, because it was anticipated that there may still be some demand for the service from disabled people who are seeking to apply for the existing Scottish benefits, as well as for Scottish Child Payment once it is introduced, the Scottish Government made arrangements to support that demand as it arises.
To this end, an interim service has been implemented and commenced on 30 June. Due to the tight timescales for this interim scheme’s implementation, it was not possible to engage with advocacy providers in the run up to the launch of the scheme.
We are however currently working with advocacy service providers to support the interim scheme, and will continue to do so during the development of a longer-term solution that will be in place for the introduction of Scottish disability benefits.
However, because it was anticipated that there may still be some demand for the service from disabled people who are seeking to apply for the existing Scottish benefits, as well as for Scottish Child Payment once it is introduced, the Scottish Government made arrangements to support that demand as it arises.
To this end, an interim service has been implemented and commenced on 30 June. Due to the tight timescales for this interim scheme’s implementation, it was not possible to engage with advocacy providers in the run up to the launch of the scheme.
We are however currently working with advocacy service providers to support the interim scheme, and will continue to do so during the development of a longer-term solution that will be in place for the introduction of Scottish disability benefits.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-30549 by reference.