Social Security Chamber
Social Security Chamber
The Social Security Chamber deals with appeals against decisions by Social Security Scotland about what the law calls assistance. The Chamber and Social Security Scotland, refer to that as benefits.
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 establishes the arrangements for the First-tier Tribunal to hear appeals against determinations by Social Security Scotland on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
The Chamber is headed by a Chamber President, Joy Hosie.
Judicial office holders comprise legal, medical and disability members. Dependent on the benefit decision appealed against, a tribunal may consist of one, two or three members.
At present the only Social Security Scotland benefits that have a right of appeal to the Chamber are:
- Best Start Grant
- Pregnancy and Baby Payment
- Early Learning Payment
- School Age Payment
- Funeral Support Payment
- Young Carer Grant
- Winter Heating Assistance for Children and Young People
- Scottish Child Payment
- Child Disability Payment
- Adult Disability Payment.
These benefits are awarded by Social Security Scotland. In time more benefits will be devolved to Scotland and all appeals related to these benefits will be heard by this Chamber.
Eligibility
A person is eligible for appointment as an ordinary member of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland if the person is experienced in dealing with the needs of persons who have a disability within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 because the person works in a professional or voluntary capacity with a person with a disability, provides care to a person with a disability, or themselves has a disability.
Definitions
a) You have a disability
Definition: you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and longterm adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
b)You work in a professional capacity (other than as a registered medical practitioner) with disabled people.
Definition: you are actively involved in dealing with the disability and not simply advising on disability issues such as welfare benefits. This includes, but is not limited to:
- physiotherapists
- occupational therapists
- speech therapists
- community psychiatric nurses
- nurses and social workers working with disabled people
c) You work in a voluntary capacity with disabled people.
Definition: you actively and frequently work with people with a disability to assist them in respect of their disability. The time spent as a voluntary worker must be significant.
d) You care for someone with a disability
Definition: you would normally be a parent or a full time carer of a disabled person. If you do not live with the disabled person you must have actively and frequently cared for them over a significant period of time.
Eligibility