Ensure that the new social security agency works closely with other agencies and services, including the Home Office, housing, health and social care, and childcare Devolved entitlements Introduce automatic individual payments of Universal Credit Ensure that carers in employment and education, and older carers are entitled to the new carers benefit Work towards the introduction of a Citizen’s Income in Scotland Create a Destitution Fund for people with insecure immigration status or ‘no recourse to public funds’ Set eligibility for the Best Start Grant as widely as possible and allow women to apply for at least six months after the birth of their child Abolish or significantly reduce the use of medical assessments, and increase the number of lifetime awards granted to disabled people 3. WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS 3.1 SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AID ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS Scottish Aid (SWA) held three focus groups with women in Kilmarnock (27 th September) and Edinburgh (6th and 11th October). Women were supported to attend these meetings by East Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Shakti Women’s Aid. All the women who participated in the sessions had experience of using the social security system. In all three sessions common shared themes emerged from the discussions covered by women. Some affected women in general and others specifically related to women as EU migrants or with insecure immigration status, women with disabilities, women with children, women in same sex relationships. Women taking part in the discussion often raised issues that highlighted their multiple and intersecting identities and the consequent multiple ways in which they felt the benefits system failed them or discriminated against them. The thematic commonality across all three sessions reflected the systemic inequality of the social security system and of women’s lives. The following note highlights the recurring themes from the three sessions. Principles The opening discussion concentrated on the experiences of women in using the benefits system and what a social security system based on dignity and respect should look like for women.
Ensure that the new social security agency works closely with other agencies and services, including the Home Office, housing, health and social care, and childcare Devolved entitlements Introduce automatic individual payments of Universal Credit Ensure that carers in employment and education, and older carers are entitled to the new carers benefit Work towards the introduction of a Citizen’s Income in Scotland Create a Destitution Fund for people with insecure immigration status or ‘no recourse to public funds’ Set eligibility for the Best Start Grant as widely as possible and allow women to apply for at least six months after the birth of their child Abolish or significantly reduce the use of medical assessments, and increase the number of lifetime awards granted to disabled people 3. WORKSHOP DISCUSSIONS 3.1 SCOTTISH WOMEN’S AID ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS Scottish Aid (SWA) held three focus groups with women in Kilmarnock (27 th September) and Edinburgh (6th and 11th October). Women were supported to attend these meetings by East Ayrshire, Edinburgh and Shakti Women’s Aid. All the women who participated in the sessions had experience of using the social security system. In all three sessions common shared themes emerged from the discussions covered by women. Some affected women in general and others specifically related to women as EU migrants or with insecure immigration status, women with disabilities, women with children, women in same sex relationships. Women taking part in the discussion often raised issues that highlighted their multiple and intersecting identities and the consequent multiple ways in which they felt the benefits system failed them or discriminated against them. The thematic commonality across all three sessions reflected the systemic inequality of the social security system and of women’s lives. The following note highlights the recurring themes from the three sessions. Principles The opening discussion concentrated on the experiences of women in using the benefits system and what a social security system based on dignity and respect should look like for women.
1610-social-security-engagement-events.docx