Scottish Tories to reveal ‘fairer’ benefits system with assessment for mental health

The Scottish Conservatives will reveal “fairer” benefits system proposals with plans for a new assessment for those with a mental health condition.

The party has proposed plans they say will save taxpayers £1 billion through a new assessment system for those claiming the Adult Disability Payment, which currently costs taxpayers £1.3 billion in mental health claims.

The new assessment would mean that those claiming this benefit for a mental health condition would require a medical diagnosis and evidence that they face unavoidable and necessary extra costs due to their condition.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay will reveal the proposals on Wednesday and said they will deliver a “fairer” benefits system “for everyone”.

Mr Findlay said: “The SNP’s out-of-control benefits bill now accounts for almost one pound of every seven pounds spent by John Swinney’s government.

“With payments set to hit almost £10 billion by 2030, this is unaffordable and unfair on hard-working Scots.

“Yet all the other parties, including Reform, think that we can keep pouring more and more taxpayers’ money into the black hole of the benefits system.

“Social security is a vital safety net for many people, and that will always be protected, but the SNP’s light touch system is open to fraud and abuse.

“Our detailed plans will rein in spending by creating a fairer system for everyone and cutting costs for Scottish taxpayers who are being hammered by the SNP.”

Shadow social security secretary Alexander Stewart added that the Conservatives want to end “the SNP’s reckless approach” towards welfare.

Scottish Conservative shadow social security secretary Alexander Stewart MSP added: “The SNP’s reckless approach towards welfare spending cannot continue.

“Scots are sick and tired of being forced to pay the highest taxes in the United Kingdom to fund a welfare bill that is growing every year. It is discouraging work and harming Scotland’s economic growth.

“Our new policy paper underlines where clear savings can be made and how we can finally deliver value for taxpayers. I urge the SNP to show some common sense and adopt our plans.”

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Social security is something that anyone could need at some point in their life – and it speaks volumes that the Tories want to strip that support away from people, and stigmatise everyone else who receives it.

“At a time when people are really struggling, the Tories want to make this worse by taking away support from disabled people. It gets to the heart of why their support in Scotland has fallen off a cliff.

“The Adult Disability Payment helps disabled people with everyday tasks that many of us take for granted. We will protect this support because it is the right thing to do.

“We are doing this alongside a budget that protects the strongest cost-of-living support package in the UK – and ensures the majority of Scottish taxpayers can expect to pay less income tax than they would elsewhere in the UK.”