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Rachel Chiu reflects on the importance of lived experience as she takes up a new role with SSAC

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: About the Committee, Claimants, Consultation, Independent advice, social security, Stakeholders
Social Security Advisory Committee member, Rachel Chiu

I grew up in a first-generation immigrant household, and having experiences of homelessness and disability within our family, we were supported by social security benefits which provided a stepping stone out of poverty, but also demonstrated to me some of …

Les Allamby's early reflections of SSAC...the second time around!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: About the Committee, Claimants, Consultation, Department for Communities (Northern Ireland), DWP, Independent advice, Legislation, Northern Ireland, Stakeholders
Photograph of Les Allamby, Member of the Social Security Advisory Committee.

I never had a misspent youth. As a student I spent my Saturday mornings volunteering on a Durham market stall containing (then) DHSS[1] leaflets, answering basic queries and offering appointments for more complex issues. Not knowing what I wanted to …

The importance of listening: Dr Suzy Walton reflects on her new role with SSAC

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: About the Committee, Claimants, Contributory benefits, DWP, Independent advice, Public Sector, Stakeholders

“If at first you don’t succeed…” I first applied to join the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) just after my 6th child was born. I was previously a Senior Civil Servant in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and worked on …

My first impressions of SSAC by 'benefits nerd' Daphne Hall

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: About the Committee, Claimants, Independent advice, Legislation, social security, SSAC Independent Work Programme, Stakeholders
Photograph of Daphne Hall, Member of the Social Security Advisory Committee

A bit of a benefits nerd, I’ve been in welfare rights pretty much all my working life. I started as an adviser - first at Citizens Advice in London, moving on to Springfield psychiatric hospital and then Bristol City Council …

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SSAC is an independent statutory body that provides impartial advice on social security and related matters. We scrutinise most of the complex secondary legislation that underpins the social security system.

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