The SNP Scottish Government has extended eligibility for the Pension Age Disability Payment to 13 more local authority areas ahead of its national rollout as the 15th Social Security Scotland payment on 22nd April. The new payment is for people of State Pension age living with disabilities or long-term health conditions, taking a fairer and more respectful... Continue Reading →
New Independent Advocacy Service Opens
Ruth Maguire MSP welcomes new support available to help disabled people in Cunninghame South access Scottish social security. Disabled people are now able to access a new advocacy service to get help, when applying for Scottish social security benefits. The support is available to disabled people applying for any of Social Security Scotland’s current and... Continue Reading →
Assurances Provided on Face Covering Exemptions for Public Transport
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed reassurances of support from the Scottish Government for people with disabilities which exempt them from wearing face coverings on public transport. Speaking today at Portfolio Questions, the SNP MSP for Cunninghame South highlighted that not every disability which gives people a valid exemption is visible and asked what support is... Continue Reading →
No ‘DWP Style’ Disability Assessments Under New Scottish Social Security System
Ruth Maguire MSP has welcomed confirmation from the Scottish Government that there will be no DWP style assessments to access disability assistance under the new Scottish social security system. Decisions will be made using information gathered through the applications process including from health care providers Should more detail be required to make decisions on an... Continue Reading →
Additional Social Distancing Support in Supermarkets Required for the Visually Impaired
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for extra support to be given to visually impaired people to help follow social distancing guidelines in supermarkets following concerns being raised locally and by leading organisations. This comes after a nationwide survey by the Royal National Institute of Blind People found that three in four people with visual impairments... Continue Reading →
Long Term Covid Decisions Should Centre on Human Rights
Ruth Maguire MSP has called for the Scottish Government to take a human-rights based approach to decision making on suppressing the coronavirus outbreak which includes the needs of disabled people. During an open debate in the Scottish Parliament on the next steps to be taken in responding to the health crisis, the SNP MSP cited... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire Gives Support to Chronic Illness Charity
Ruth Maguire MSP gave her support to an awareness campaign by the British Lymphology Society in the Scottish Parliament this week. The BLS’ hosted an exhibition inside the Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of Lymphoedema, a chronic condition which causes swelling, skin and tissue changes in addition to a predisposition to infection. It most commonly... Continue Reading →
Ruth Maguire MSP (SNP) 