- Submission for the Welfare Reform Committee (119kb)
April 2012
CAS' response to the Scottish Parliament's Welfare Reform Committee's call for evidence relating to the Scottish Government’s Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill.
- Housing Benefit Reform (180kb)
April 2012
Briefing on the effects of Housing Benefit reform on the people, communities and economy of Scotland.
- Scottish Parliament Debate: Housing Benefit Reform (174kb)
March 2012
A briefing to the Scottish Parliament ahead of the debate on Housing Benefit reform in April 2012, outlining concerns about the combined impact of decreasing budgets for housing services and local authorities, alongside other welfare changes on housing benefit claimants and the increase in public service demand that this will create.
- Citizens Advice Scotland Briefing on Welfare Reform Bill as amended in House of Lords (144kb)
February 2012
A briefing to Scottish MPs on the seven amendments to the Welfare Reform Bill brought forward and passed by the House of Lords prior to the Westminster debate on the 1st February 2012. The briefing looks at the negative impact of the bill on the people, society and economy of Scotland, and discusses ways in which the proposed amendments would decrease these impacts.
- From pillar to post (1600kb)
February 2012
This report examines the impact of the IB/ESA migration on the 170,000 claimants who are to be reassessed in Scotland and the wider impact this will have on advice services, labour markets, and the economy.
- From pillar to post (print friendly version) (1549kb)
February 2012
This report examines the impact of this migration on the 170,000 claimants who are to be reassessed in Scotland and the wider impact this will have on advice services, labour markets, and the economy. (NB. If you wish to print out a hard copy of the report, please use this version)
- CAS briefing for the WCA debate (93kb)
February 2012
A briefing to Scottish MPs for the Westminster Hall Debate on the ESA Work Capability Assessment, 1st February 2011
- A response to the Scottish Government consultation on the devolution of crisis loans and community care grants (173kb)
October 2011
Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants are to be devolved to Scotland. This response to the consultation advised Scottish Government how successor arrangements might operate in Scotland.
- The Impact of the Welfare Reform Bill on Scotland's people and services (959kb)
October 2011
CAS has prepared a briefing on the impact of the welfare reform bill on Scotland’s people, services, and devolved areas and called for the Scottish Parliament to set up a Welfare Reform Bill Committee.
- Young People and benefits (267kb)
October 2011
The third in a series of briefing sheets produced from the CAS report 'Being Young Being Heard'. This briefing focus on the specific issues young people face in the welfare system.
- CAS Submission to the Health and Sport Committee Scrutiny of the UK Welfare Reform Bill Legislative Consent Motion (159kb)
October 2011
CAS' submission to the Scottish Parliament Health & Sport Committee, which will be scrutinising the UK Welfare Reform Bill Legislative Consent Motion, gives detail on the impact of aspects of the bill to Scotland’s people, services and economy. In addition it sets out our arguments for the establishment of a Scottish Parliament Welfare and Benefits Committee and our position on the LCM.
- CAS response to Year 2 of the Harrington Review (342kb)
September 2011
The CAS response to the second year of the Harrington Review, based on the input of over 130 managers, advisers and volunteers from 60 different bureaux across Scotland.
- SCoWR briefing on the Welfare Reform Bill (House of Lords) (115kb)
September 2011
This briefing draws on the SCoWR manifesto to set out five key principles for welfare reform agreed by our diverse membership. It calls on the House of Lords to ensure these principles underpin debate and decisions on the Welfare Reform Bill.
- JSA Sanctions briefing sheet (125kb)
August 2011
This briefing sheet looks at the sharp rise in sanctions and the unhelpful effects they have on the people affected, as well as recommendations for improving the system.
- DWP consultation on DLA/PIP - Citizens Advice Scotland response (135kb)
August 2011
CAS’ response to the Government’s consultation on the introduction of PIP outlines potential impacts in Scotland of the proposed changes in Scotland.
- SCoWR response to SSAC consultation on passported benefits (126kb)
July 2011
The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR)response to the SSAC consultation on passported benefits.
- SCoWR briefing on welfare reform (83kb)
June 2011
Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR) briefing sent to all Scottish MPs.
- Welfare Reform briefing (450kb)
June 2011
The CAS welfare reform briefing has been sent to all Scottish MP’s before the 3rd reading of the Welfare Reform Bill in the House of Commons. The focus of the briefing looks at the major issues affecting our clients in the bill and impact on devolved legislation in Scotland.
- Welfare Reform Bill - House of Commons Report Stage briefing 13 June.pdf (1039kb)
June 2011
CAS was involved in the shaping and writing of amendments proposed by action for children/SCoWR for the third reading of the welfare reform bill. The amendment relates to childcare and costs, and work focused interviews.
- Inquiry into migration from Incapacity Benefit to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (138kb)
April 2011
Inquiry into the migration from Incapacity Benefit to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). Response from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to the Work and Pensions Committee.
- Advice in Detail - Benefits 2009/10 (644kb)
March 2011
This report is a detailed look at the benefits issues that clients bring to the Scottish CAB Service.
- SCoWR response to DLA reform consultation (109kb)
February 2011
Citizens Advice Scotland is a member of SCoWR, the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform. This is the SCoWR response to the Disabilty Living Allowance reform consultation.
- Westminster Hall Debate: housing benefit changes in Scotland (160kb)
February 2011
Citizens Advice Scotland’s briefing for the Westminster Hall debate taking place on Tuesday the 8th of February on the effects of housing benefit changes on Scotland.
- DLA consultation response (148kb)
February 2011
This is a Citizens Advice Scotland's response to the DWP consultation response on the reform of Disability Living Allowance.
- Making Kinship Care Payments (161kb)
November 2010
A technical briefing for local authorities, published in November 2010.
- Westminster Hall Debate: Comprehensive Spending Review (121kb)
November 2010
CAS briefing on the impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review on the DWP.
- Housing Benefit briefing (298kb)
October 2010
CAS submitted a briefing for the Work & Pensions Committee for their evidence session taking place the 20th October, on the changes to Housing Benefit announced in the June 2010 budget. The evidence based briefing presents the Scottish perspective on the proposed changes.
- 21st Century Welfare Response (76kb)
September 2010
CAS was a major contributor to the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform's joint member response to the 21st Century Welfare Consultation, which saw some of the groups key policy calls for a better welfare system included in the consultation paper.
- Work Capability Assessment (537kb)
September 2010
Consultation response on the Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance.
- Unfit for Purpose (808kb)
May 2010
Evidence report on Employment and Support Allowance.
- Members Business Debate - Unfit for Purpose (372kb)
May 2010
Members business debate on CAS's evidence report on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Unfit for Purpose.
- SCoWR: Manifesto for Change (206kb)
April 2010
Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform: Manifesto for Change.
- Employment and Support Allowance (122kb)
October 2009
Briefing which provides a summary of issues encounterd by clients applying for and/or claiming ESA.
- Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (527kb)
February 2009
Leaflet describing SCoWR - a Scottish voice for issues on welfare reform.
- No One Written Off - Reforming Welfare to Reward Responsibility (488kb)
October 2008
Response to the DWP's Green Paper on welfare reform.
- Tax Credits Consultation Response (288kb)
September 2008
Consultation response which outlines some of the key tax credit issues that CAB clients and advisers have reported over the last year.
- Child Poverty evidence for Local Government and Communities Committee (62kb)
June 2008
Evidence submitted by CAS in response to the local government committee's enquiry into child poverty.
- Benefit Backdating (29kb)
March 2008
Consultation response on benefit backdating submitted for DWP impact assessment.
- Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform -2nd reading debate (27kb)
January 2008
SCoWR briefing on the Welfare Reform Bill 2nd Reading Debate.
- In Work Better Off (467kb)
October 2007
CAS's response to the 2007 Green Paper on welfare reform.
- Social Fund evidence for the Work and Pensions Commitee (57kb)
April 2007
Consultation response providing evidence on Scottish CAB clients' experiences accessing the social fund.
- Paying the price: clients with mental health issues (261kb)
March 2007
Briefing which focuses on CAB clients from the disability and sickness research with mental health issues.
- CSA (128kb)
February 2007
- Paying the Price (1191kb)
July 2006
A report looking at the experiences of CAb clients who are claiming disability living allowance or incapacity benefit.
- Paying the Price (465kb)
July 2006
Briefing sheet summarising the key findings of CAS's disability and sickness research.
- Crisis Loans Applications (128kb)
June 2005
Briefing describing the problems faced by both bureau clients and advisers in trying to access crisis loans through the new system of telephone applications.
- JSA and ad-hoc workers (110kb)
June 2005
Briefing that examines eligibility for JSA amongst a specific client group: ad-hoc workers.
- Disability and Sickness Benefits (81kb)
December 2003
Briefing based on CAS's report 'Riding the Benefits rollercoaster'.
- Tax Credit and Debt problems (54kb)
Briefing sheet on tax credit and debt problems.
- Welfare Reform letter (186kb)
Letter in response to green paper on Welfare Reform
