THE IMPACT OF WELFARE REFORM IN SCOTLAND – TRACKING STUDY: Year 1 report

The aim of the study is to explore the impact of on-going welfare changes on a range of households in Scotland over time. This report provides the findings from the first year of the study by presenting results from the first two sweeps of interviews. Sweep 1 took place from September 2013 to January 2014 and sweep 2 took place from .April 2014 to July 2014

The research is concerned with those in receipt of working age benefits and addresses the impact of the current benefit reforms and new rules including the Benefit Cap; the 'bedroom tax'; changes to lone parents’ obligations; the changeover from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payments (PIP); and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). The research also addresses participants’ views on about the move to Universal Credit.

Forty three individuals took part in sweep 1 of the research and 35 individuals took part in sweep 2, each with different reasons for claiming benefits. Participants were recruited to the study from across Scotland, including rural and urban areas and the major cities, and had a range of demographic and other characteristics.

http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0044/00449882.pdf