Enable Scotland wants travel scheme pledge
A disability charity is calling on the Scottish Government to give a guarantee on concessionary travel, regardless of changes being made to the welfare system at Westminster.
Enable Scotland wants the Government to commit to ensuring that all those who currently qualify for the scheme, which provides free bus travel to over 60s and some younger disabled people, will continue to do so irrespective of the Welfare Reform Act.
The charity set out its plea in a written submission to Holyrood’s Welfare Reform Committee ahead of an evidence session.
The committee is gathering views on the Welfare Reform (Further Provision) (Scotland) Bill, which allows Scottish ministers to make regulations in devolved areas which take account of changes to the UK welfare system as a result of the Welfare Reform Act.
The Act was passed at Westminster earlier this year, with the aim of simplifying the benefits system. Key changes include replacing a number of benefits with a Universal Credit and replacing the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
DLA is known as a “passport benefit” because those who qualify are automatically entitled to other benefits, such as concessionary travel, council tax exemption, housing benefit and jobseeker’s allowance.
The charity wrote: “We believe that it is of immediate concern that some people who currently access the concessionary travel scheme will lose this if they lose their right to the PIP.
“There is an opportunity for the Scottish Government to give a commitment to ensure that all those who currently qualify for concessionary travel will continue to do so irrespective of the cuts being imposed from the UK Government.”
It continued: “Enable Scotland would encourage the committee to ask the Scottish Government to clarify its position on passported entitlements and whether they are under threat as a result of the implementation of the Welfare Reform Act.”
The charity said disabled people were already facing a “perfect storm” of increased charges for social care services, fewer employment opportunities, reductions to social care services and tightening of eligibility criteria.
