CAS Reports on Designing a Social Security System for Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the publication by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) of its series of reports, Fair, Equal and Responsive: Designing a Social Security System for Scotland; understands with concern that more than one third of the people who claim the benefits that are due to be replaced by universal credit often run out of money and that, in 2014-15, Scotland's network of citizens advice bureaux (CAB) dealt with over 220,000 new issues relating to benefits and tax credits, which is the equivalent of 37% of all CAB workload; believes that the devolution of powers in this area offers a vital opportunity to craft a fair, equal and responsive social security system for Scotland; welcomes the CAS recommendations regarding disability and carers’ benefits, universal credit, funeral payments, winter fuel and cold weather payments, discretionary housing payments and employment programmes, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with CAS to support the best interests of citizens.