Professor John Robertson OBA
Getting little media coverage today – the National, the Record, the Mirror, some locals, but not BBC Scotland or STV:
‘Milestone’ as SNP launch new disability benefit across Scotland
That’s the Ardrossan Herald, above, recognising the headline-worthy, you’d think, nature of this announcement.
From Econostratum today:
A new benefit has been introduced for older people in Scotland, offering monthly payments of up to £441 for individuals with disabilities or long-term health conditions.
The Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) is designed to replace Attendance Allowance for new claimants, starting on April 22, 2025. This measure aims to enhance financial support for pensioners who need assistance with daily activities or supervision due to their health conditions.
One of the standout features of the Pension Age Disability Payment is that it does not require face-to-face assessments as part of the application process. Applicants will not need to attend any in-person evaluations unless specifically requested. This makes the process less intrusive and easier for claimants, ensuring a more accessible system for those in need of support.
Why have I mentioned suicide rates above?
Attempted suicides among out-of-work disability benefit claimants have more than doubled since the introduction of fit-to-work assessments in 2008, The Independent can reveal.
According to new analysis of NHS data from surveys taken in 2007 and 2014, nearly half of people surveyed on out-of-work disability benefits said in 2014 that they had attempted to take their own lives.
Results from the 2007 survey – taken a year before the controversial work capability assessment (WCA) test began – show 21 per cent of incapacity benefit claimants had attempted suicide, meaning the proportion more than doubled in seven years.
What does UK Labour plan?
Face-to-face disability benefits assessments will be increased. Currently, only 7% of PIP assessments and work capability assessments are carried out face-to-face [in the wake of the 2007-2104 suicide revelations].
https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/benefits-cuts-labour-pip-universal-credit-reform/
The full data from 2008-2014? Labour will not release.
Talking-up Scotland 'Albatraz' 
I have to say in defence of the D.W.P, that I first applied for A.A over five years ago, and have never had any problems. Hopefully the Scottish version will work just as well.
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In America Rep. Keith Self on Medicaid said:
“When they use scare tactics to say we’re cutting benefits, we’re only trying to get able-bodied adults working.”
Now who does that remind you of.
( Is it the Labour UK government and their ‘changes’ to the UK Benefit system , to try to force vulnerable people into work , as in those who are either physically or mentally unfit , but if they do not comply, then just like in America , they too will see their UK government cutting their benefits as well).
Make Britain Great again mirroring Make America Great Again but both want to do it in mainly exploiting the poorest and most vulnerable within their countries, in order to further enrich themselves, their own parties and also those who fund them as political parties.
Keir Starmer said that the current welfare system was “the worst of all worlds”, discouraging people from working while producing a “spiralling bill”.
“The Labour party ‘Get Britain Working group’ of 36 Labour MPs has said the government has a “moral duty” to help long-term sick and disabled people to work if they can”.
“In a letter to Kendall, the MPs said the country faced “hard choices” to overcome a “crisis of economic inactivity”.
(Yes, ‘Hard choices’ , like Labour now contemplating slashing the taxes for global tech companies like Amazon , Google & Meta and also not applying a wealth Tax to the rich , to then try to prevent any restrictions in the future support , for Labour as a political party , and also in not then stopping or restricting the amounts of donations from the wealthy donors to the Labour party in all future elections).
Win Win for Labour and their wealthy donors, for others, like those who need benefits, not so much.
Some MP’s elected in Scotland are part of this ‘Get Britain Working‘ group as in Joani Reid, Blair McDougall, Graeme Downie, Frank McNally, and Gregor Poynton.
Actually “Get Britain Working” was first an initiative of the Tory-Lib Dem coalition government as part of this scheme was where young people, on State Benefits, were offered unpaid work placements in companies. If they dropped out after the first week on the scheme, they may have had their benefits removed.
Labour want to go much further and be far more draconian.
Vote SNP in 2026 or pay the price in risking an alliance between other parties who will destroy Scotland.
Liz S
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