SFHA are concerned about the potential implications of the statement this week from Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions  on Pathways to Work reform.

While much of the detail of how it will affect Scotland is still not clear, the UK Government's aims to cut the welfare budget by £5 billion by 2030 will unquestionably put pressure on the system of devolved social security here in Scotland, potentially reducing the incomes of those already experiencing poverty and hampering the collective efforts in Scotland to tackle child poverty.

We welcome the scrapping of the controversial Work Capability Assessment in 2028 the proposal to introduce a permanent, above inflation rise to the standard allowance in Universal Credit, as well as legislating for a ‘right to try’ that should guarantee that work in and of itself will never lead to a benefit reassessment - giving people the confidence to take the plunge and try work – without the fear this will put their benefits at risk.

However, this is a worrying time for the social housing sector in Scotland. People with long-term health conditions are more likely to live in social rented housing. 

52.7% of people with learning disabilities and 49.6% of people with mental health conditions live in social rented housing in Scotland. 

Every day, staff within Housing Associations provide and signpost sick and disabled people to ensure they receive the right advice and support to receive the support they are entitled to, yet we know we that many disabled people are struggling to afford essentials and to heat their homes properly. 

We absolutely agree that our social security system needs reform. Universal Credit is broken and causes destitution by design, and sick and disabled people should absolutely be helped to work if they can. 

However we are concerned that cutting the income of people still further by changing who is eligible for support will actively undermine efforts to tackle the persistent disability employment gap in Scotland particularly as the cost of living keeps rising. 

A social security system which treats people with dignity and respect is an investment in all of us and in our economy.

Plunging more disabled people into deeper hardship is likely to lead to health conditions worsening and people being less able to engage with support, training and trying to return to work. 

We need to ensure that pathways to work are indeed that, long term investment in the supports needed to make work accessible and possible for disabled people, not pathways to poverty and poorer health.

SFHA will continue it's long term efforts, with partners across the UK, to influence positive social security reform.