Journalists have been given access to several clients who told us of sudden, unplanned reviews to their PIP benefits claims including threats to cut off benefits payments to victims of long term disability - and lengthy, confusing telephone consultations in which searching questions were asked of claimants lifestyles and their politics.
In cases now being assisted by legal advice, claimants alleged they were made to fear information on their politics and voting intentions may end up being used as a condition to maintain their current benefits payments.
Material ingathered by claimants - which journalists have now had sight of within their legal representative’s office - does appear to support accusations the new devolved benefits powers - passed to the SNP Government by the Conservative Government at Westminster – are subject to a litany of delays, withholding of, or cancellation of payments and potentially motivated consideration of benefits payments to persons across Scotland in areas where some may consider a ‘target voter pool’ could make a difference in what may become a bitterly contested Scottish General Election in 2026.
Noting the material provided by claimants in just two of Scotland’s local government areas – none of the allegations raised with journalists by solicitors and their clients appear to have been explained by Social Security Scotland in any reasonable way to claimants – who include terminal cancer victims, very seriously disabled persons unable to walk, victims of serious sexual abuse and several long term Covid victims – all of whom claim they are being treated worse than under the DWP system when Personal Independence Payments and related benefits were reserved to Westminster.
And in several cases, journalists have been able to speak with Local Authority staff who backed up issues relating to lengthy delays in payments and unreasonable withholding of benefits.
One Local Authority source said “claimants are being unfairly targeted because of who they are because they are too weak to fight back and we don’t have the staff to help all cases”.
A solicitor representing a PIP claimant said: “People are being seriously let down by Social Security Scotland.”
Information on cases where compensation cash for victims of abuse has been raided by politicians to fund pay rises to stave off strike headlines, and political ventures and other PR related issues which have already been aired in the media.
Several abuse victims who have spoken to journalists now fear their PIP payments may also end up going the same way and “into the hands of desperate politicians trying to cling to power” as one victim told us.
Journalists understand the law firm’s clients are being assisted by an MSP on cases of irregular reviews and unwarranted withdrawal of PIP benefits claims and payments under the SNP Government’s Social Security Scotland.
Solicitors representing the claimants requested journalists not publish material currently in their hands, as they feel clients – particularly those in receipt of Legal Aid - could be maligned in their access to legal advice – until such time more fuller scrutiny and assistance can be provided.
However Justice Diaries has been asked to publish a short list of recommendations to any benefits claimants who feel they may (and should) require to keep careful notes on any interaction or contact whatsoever with Social Security Scotland.
1. Maintain “careful notes” of any contact via phone or personal visits, interviews or consultations regarding your benefits claims.
2. Ask for and note down the names and role of anyone from Social Security Scotland whom you are speaking with and ensure you have an accurate record of what was said.
3. If you are in need of assistance or any form of help for any benefits issues relating to Social Security Scotland – seek out help from your Local Authority benefits team immediately and do not delay.
4. If you feel your benefits claim or PIP payments under the SNP Scottish Government rules are being subject to unwarranted interference or intimidation, you may require to contact a solicitor and seek legal advice without delay.
5. If you are required by Social Security Scotland to attend interviews or consultations, take a witness or someone to assist you.
In the case of “Careful Notes” readers may interpret that recommendation as to how you record information via any means.
It may also be helpful for you to ensure a witness is present to ingather a verbatim, word-for-word account of any telephone interview or consultation you are required to attend.
Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Government were not contacted for comment on this report, as Scottish Government agencies now often ignore or issue delays to media enquiries then ultimately refuse to respond.
However, material scrutinised by journalists – does appear to corroborate claimants experiences now being dealt with by legal representatives, Local Authorities and Disability support groups.
If readers have any similar experiences with Social Security Scotland or concerns about how they are being treated and wish to find help, the advice is to contact your Local Authority Benefits Team and any Disability support groups and your area MSP immediately – and if you feel the need – contact a reputable qualified solicitor who may be able to provide legal advice and representation.
Additionally, it’s always good to contact any Scottish newspaper journalists via their respective news desk or contact details with your story as these are national issues affecting all Scots.
And of course keep journalists informed of related issues you experience in matters addressed in this article at Justice Diaries via our email: scottishlawreporters@gmail.com
Be informed everyone - and inform others to help others, and get the help you need.
24 comments:
If you do not vote 'unnamed party hellbent on destroying us all' we are going to cut your benefits make you homeless and give your kids to an abuser. We get it. Scotland is the most evil in 2023.
Why do we have to wait until 2026 to get rid of the evil?
Not surprised
What can you expect from the SNP after all the name calling on Covid and now we know Sturgeon and all her clique deleted their messages so whatever they said we will never know
#SNPOUT
Good to see you writing again Peter
Can I ask why the Police Scotland story remained as your leading post for so long?
The delays to pay and cancellation of benefits are Scottish Government vindictiveness not the incompetence they always claim in the news
Remember the SNP openly talked about how pensioners voted against independence and their own msps posted on social media statements about when the pensioners die off quicker we can have our independence
I urge all your readers to take the recommendations you posted and also record in any way possible any phone calls and interviews with the SNP Benefits Teams who are more about giving the money to their SNP Government rather than who the money is intended for
and please tell the Benefitsandwork website how badly they are treating you
https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/delays-for-scottish-disability-benefits,-but-some-pip-claimants-waiting-years
Delays for Scottish disability benefits, but some PIP claimants waiting years
Published: 31 January 2023
Decisions for Scottish disability payments are taking longer than intended, but still do not rival the two and a half years some claimants have been waiting for a PIP decision
Child Disability Payment (CDP) and Adult Disability Payments (ADP) have replaced DLA for children and PIP respectively, in Scotland.
However, the Scottish government says that decisions are taking longer to make than they hoped. The majority of claimants receive their decision within four months, but some claimants are waiting six months or more.
Unlike PIP, decisions on ADP are made without an assessment wherever possible. However, this does mean there is a greater reliance on supporting evidence and it is difficulties and delays with obtaining this that is causing problems.
Social Security Scotland are introducing various measures, such as enabling GP’s to submit evidence online, to try to speed-up processing times.
Whatever the issues, Scotland still has a long way to go before they beat the delays experienced by some PIP claimants in England and Wales. The DWP claim that the average time taken to make a decision on a new PIP claim is 16 weeks.
However, thousands of PIP claimants have waited longer than 6 months for a PIP decision, with some waiting over 30 months. As of October 2022:
Number of PIP claims over 6 months old: 3,200
Number of PIP claims over 12 months old: 800
Number of PIP claims over 18 months old: 600
Number of PIP claims over 24 months old: 600
Number of PIP claims over 30 months old: 600
The Scottish National Party always want to name everything Scotland and so far everything they created with Scotland in the name turns out to be really shit at anything other than lining SNP politicians and their workers pockets
I sort of wondered when the SNP Government will get their lawyers to make it law all our children's names include the word Scotland as a middle name
Why is there only one Scotland in Social Security Scotland?
How about Scotland Social Scotland Security Scotland Scotland?
Where is all the money going NiKola?
How many books can you write about your failed legal career and ferries?
Good post as always Peter you would make a fine MSP but I know you will never go near politics because you detest politics and how politicians hold us all hostage to their own interests.Pity there are few journalists like yourself willing to put real news out to us plebs.
Thanks Peter you are one of the few to report the delays to benefits cases and payments from Social Security Scotland are deliberate and meant to hurt people as the SNP pretend government
enjoy doing
RECORD ALL YOUR PHONE CALLS WITH BENEFITS STAFF AND TAKE ALONG A RECORDER TO YOUR INTERVIEW OR THE CONSULTATION DO NOT TRUST THEM TO GIVE YOU A RECORDING BECAUSE THEY OFTEN SAY THEY NO LONGER HAVE A RECORDING OF YOUR INTERVIEW
Many thanks for your help Peter and making your coverage fit around a requirement for immediate publication.
are you able to name the law firm and clients?
Very obvious from all the news the SNP are deliberately stalling on benefits payments and making people wait to kill them off same as the Tories did and look how many died in England and Wales because the Tories weaponised benefits SNP are doing same as their Tory supporters
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65611514
'Significant delays’ to new disability benefits
By Georgina Hayes & Ian Hamilton
BBC Scotland news
The roll-out of the Scottish government's new Adult Disability Payment has seen "significant delays", according to welfare rights groups.
They said new applicants for the benefit were facing waits of between four and seven months for a decision.
The new payment is replacing benefits such as personal independence payments (PIP) and disability living allowance.
The Scottish government took over responsibility for these benefits from the UK government last year.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville told the BBC that waiting times needed to decrease and said action was being taken.
More than 350,000 Scots are being automatically transferred to the new Adult Disability Payment, although the process is not expected to be completed until the end of 2025.
The benefit was opened to new applicants in August, with Scottish ministers pledging the process would be "more compassionate" than the existing Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) system.
However, welfare rights campaigners, including Enable Scotland, said it was taking "far longer than it should" for decisions to be made on new applications - and longer than the waits previously seen for PIP.
Disability campaigners also criticised First Minister Humza Yousaf for scrapping the dedicated social security minister role in March, at a time when the Scottish government was preparing to take over responsibility for further benefits.
One claimant told BBC Scotland he had been waiting since 16 December for a decision.
Robert Scott, from Kirkcaldy in Fife, said: "I knew there was a bit of a lengthy waiting list but I didn't expect to not even be at the starting line six months later."
Mr Scott had to give up work as a chef due to a spinal injury and said he takes "a lot of painkillers every day for chronic pain".
"I need to maintain a car for getting around and everything is getting more expensive," Mr Scott said. "Energy costs are eating everything up basically."
Mr Scott said the only correspondence he received from Social Security Scotland, the executive agency of the Scottish government with responsibility for the benefit provision, was a phone call in January to confirm a previous appointment.
He also got a call in February to confirm his address.
He said that despite trying to phone their helpline, he had never managed to get through to anyone.
"I think the longest I waited before giving up was probably about three hours," he said.
"You just sit on hold. You can sit there literally for hours."
What you wrote in this para
*Material ingathered by claimants - which journalists have now had sight of within their legal representative’s office - does appear to support accusations the new devolved benefits powers - passed to the SNP Government by the Conservative Government at Westminster – are subject to a litany of delays, withholding of, or cancellation of payments and potentially motivated consideration of benefits payments to persons across Scotland in areas where some may consider a ‘target voter pool’ could make a difference in what may become a bitterly contested Scottish General Election in 2026*
is exactly what is happening to our money
Whoever the lawyers are who contacted you I hope they continue to support their clients because this is going to be the worst 3 years of Scotland's entire existence up to the General Election.
Are we going to be stuck with disaster First Minister humzza yousaf until 2026???
The state Scotland is now in because of the SNP rule is a crime against humanity
"Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Government were not contacted for comment on this report, as Scottish Government agencies now often ignore or issue delays to media enquiries then ultimately refuse to respond"
Same here with routine delay and responses threatening to deny access to briefings.
Scottish Government SPADS often call up in a deliberately antagonistic manner when they sense unwelcome investigations.Often hear swearing and name calling journalists.
Another day in corrupt SNP Scotland and I would not be surprised if the SNP rig the next election or they try to take power by force because all their supporters keep saying they will do it.
Correct.
A whistleblower at Social Security Scotland sent in evidence of claimants being secretly profiled.There is an obvious political purpose behind the SNP Social Security activities.The story did not run at the time of contact however now you published this piece we will have to give the issue another look.Have emailed contact details for any incoming relevant material.Thanks in advance Peter.
fear for anyone in Scotland forced into using a lawyer to solve their benefits or legal issues because most lawyers up there are corrupt and will be easily bought up by the SNP Government.Think first before you decide your lawyer!
Substantial amounts of cash for abuse victims were secretly diverted to party Councillors for expenses and junkets which never took place.
If any colleagues are commenting on this or anything on this blog or sending files to journalists highly recommend using Tor or a vpn and for Christ's sake do not use any Scottish Gov device as they are watching us.
Social Security Scotland
The SNP and their creepy government formed an SS with an extra S!!
#SNPOUT
@ 30 October 2023 at 17:20
More to come on that, along with alleged secret meetings with care home industry lobbyists with some interesting job switches and salary increases, asset increases for intermediaries and lawyers around same time ...
@ 30 October 2023 at 17:32
Partly due to team journos work, however the longevity of the Police Scotland article and the Non Disclosure Investigation generated lots of good intel and comms, sources & tips on issues now being looked into.
Additionally, good to talk to friends in law enforcement and discuss current problems in Scotland, along with more fuller content on the Iain Livingstone BBC interview and other related issues.
@ 30 October 2023 at 17:41
Thanks for posting this link to a very good website specialising in Benefits related news. Agree with your recommendation readers of this article should visit https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk
@ 30 October 2023 at 17:47
Good points raised.
@ 30 October 2023 at 18:14
In reality there are only a few good MSPs able to be trusted to resist the call and demands of vested interests. Blog journos know a few good MSPS and keep in touch with those who are absolutely hard working and ensure their constituents get a fair hearing and issues are addressed.
@ 30 October 2023 at 18:40
Everything is deliberate with the Scottish Government, particularly the current embittered version of Scotgov.
Forget the headlines of incompetence and stupidity - what is actually occurring is significant amounts of public cash and secret investor cash, even soft loans offered secretly to politicians incl former MSPs are essentially being embezzled and drained away under the guise of incompetence.
@ 30 October 2023 at 18:42
Absolutely yes.
@ 30 October 2023 at 18:51
Thanks, and noted.
@ 30 October 2023 at 19:04
Not at this time, as those involved may require to apply for legal aid, and we all know whichever public authority is facing a legal challenge, they often engage in thwarting legal aid applications via a snide word and faked-up material in the ear of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
@ 30 October 2023 at 19:41
Perhaps one of the papers may end up running all the chats of former staff who cant stand their old boss, and write of serious issues where there is significant public interest in publication.
@ 30 October 2023 at 20:06
Not worth the time, better to publish first and any further comment applied in a later article to update whichever cover-up the FM and Scottish Government are trying to cover-up.
@ 30 October 2023 at 22:25
Abuse cash for politicians junkets sounds interesting - email the blog with more info thanks.
Nothing several unpublished comments - content will be taken into consideration and looked at.
With regard to an email received this morning containing several audio recordings, a reply has been sent and matters will be looked into.
It would be good to re-emphasise for the purposes of this specific article that when benefits claimants are interviewed by Social Security Scotland staff or take part in any communications or appointments, consultations - that claimants and patients should insist on clear identification of the people you are talking to, so a larger picture can be built up on who in whichever organisation is doing what to whom, their motivation for doing so and why.
If you end up identifying everyone who works across the Scottish Government you may come across a person who was given a job without interview to stop him from blackmailing a very senior married political figure he formed a relationship with but later claimed the political figure preyed on him due to his more youthful age and appearance.
He crashed through several positions but still in post.Reported many times to line managers who do nothing because they have been instructed not to act against him.
When a journo colleague was tipped and asked questions he received a call from the person threatening to kill him if the story was published.This call was recorded.Paper refused to publish at the time due to FM power and a very intriguing intervention from a well known lawyer who lost another more powerful position.Perhaps your contacts may wish to publish in another country or format.
You hit gold with this story Peter someone from the Benefits Agency told me earlier today your report is 100% accurate and there are huge breaches of GDPR with SPADS demanding lists and details of all benefits claimants.Now why would Ministerial SPADS be in possession of Benefits claimants contact details home addresses family details and health information? Is your Scottish Information Commissioner asleep at his job again?
Very concerning!
The SNP Secret State strikes again
Have you seen this?
The Scottish Government say they will now seize any compensation someone gets if they had to claim benefits because of a third party's fault
The main quote is here
"It will also enable the Scottish Government to recover the cost of devolved social security benefits from compensation awards in situations where someone has had to claim payments as a result of a third party’s fault."
https://www.gov.scot/news/improving-social-security/
News Improving social security
Published 01 November 2023 09:21
Part of Programme for Government, Cost of living crisis
New bill will make system more efficient and effective.
Improving the way the Scottish system of social security delivers for people in need of support is at the heart of new legislation.
The Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill enhances the rights of Social Security Scotland clients in a number of ways:
A right to late re-determinations and appeals in exceptional circumstances
The right to withdraw a request for redetermination
The right to challenge a decision that someone is liable in a situation where an overpayment has been made
The Bill will also continue to enhance the design of the system, maximising choice for those who use it while delivering good value for money.
It will also enable the Scottish Government to recover the cost of devolved social security benefits from compensation awards in situations where someone has had to claim payments as a result of a third party’s fault.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:
“The changes proposed by this legislation are part of our commitment to continuously improve the Scottish social security system in ways which put the needs of those who require assistance first.
“They will help make the social security system more efficient and effective, contributing to our mission to tackle poverty and protect people from harm.
“The measures it contains advance equality and non-discrimination and ensure the system is efficient and delivers value for money.”
Background
The Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
A public consultation, titled ‘Scotland’s Social Security system: Enhanced administration and compensation recovery’ ran from 4 August to 27 October 2022 and a majority of the respondents supported the proposals.
Thanks for your suggestions I found an app and recording all calls successfully!!!!
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