Experience Panels invitations

18,000 people to be invited to give views on social security system.

From today, people across Scotland will begin to receive letters inviting them to join the Experience Panels which will shape the country’s new social security system.

The invitations are being sent to 18,000 people who have recent or current experience of the social security system. Each will receive a Scottish Government invitation and registration form, which contains information on the Experience Panels.

The letters are being sent on behalf of the Scottish Government by the Department of Work and Pensions, which holds details of people with recent experience of using the social security system. The letters will arrive in white envelopes rather than the standard brown envelopes used for DWP correspondence.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said:

“Key to the design of Scotland’s new social security system is working alongside people who have the direct and personal experience and knowledge of the current one, and finding out from them what works, what needs improved and what our new system can do to support them.

“Last year we held a very successful consultation with the people of Scotland, who told us what they wanted and expected of a social security system with fairness, dignity and respect at its heart. I want to continue that conversation - and one way to do that is by inviting people to take part in our Experience Panels so that, together, we can build a system fit for Scotland’s people and best suited to our needs.

“I want to be clear that this invitation is from the Scottish Government and responses will come direct to us not the DWP. However we need the DWP to send them because they hold the contact details of the people we want to reach.

“I completely understand that, for many people, letters from the DWP are viewed as bad news. We do not want that. Which is why we have ensured our invitations are in white envelopes so they stand out from the usual correspondence of the DWP.

“I hope people will take the time to look at our invitation to join our experience panels and will take the opportunity to join with us and be part of building Scotland’s social security system.”

Background

More on the Social Security Experience Panels

People can register online

Freephone: 0800 029 4974 (includes language line translation)

Text: Prefix 18001

SMS: 07467 447375

British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us via http://contactscotland-bsl.org

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