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Social Security (Scotland) Bill 2017

Introducing the Social Security (Scotland) Bill 2017 to the Scottish Parliament marks a historic moment, and represents the next significant milestone in delivering the new Scottish social security system. The Social Security (Scotland) Bill establishes a framework for the new system, and transposes the eleven existing social security benefits that are becoming devolved onto a Scottish legislative platform, allowing the Scottish Parliament to shape a distinctly Scottish social security system with dignity and respect at its heart.

Impact assessments undertaken as part of the development of the Bill:

The Scottish Government considered the Environmental Impact Assessment and concluded that the provisions of the Bill were likely to have no or minimum effect, either directly or indirectly, on the environment at this time, and therefore no Environmental Impact Assessment has been undertaken.

Social security benefit take up

Making sure that everyone receives the financial help that they are entitled to is one of the first steps towards putting dignity and respect at the heart of social security policy in Scotland.

Young Carers Benefit Take Up Resources:

Announcement on the first benefits to be administered by the new social security agency

The first social security payments to be delivered by the Scottish Government have been outlined to Parliament by Social Security Secretary Angela Constance.

The next milestone in building Scotland’s new social security system will be the delivery of the first benefits and these will be the increased Carer’s Allowance, the Best Start Grant and the Funeral Expense Assistance.

The new agency for Social Security in Scotland

The Outline Business Case for the agency for social security in Scotland is a repository of the analysis and evidence behind the Ministerial Statement made in the Scottish Parliament on April 27 2017, that announced the preferred option for the form that the agency will take.

Consultation on Social Security in Scotland

People across Scotland were given the chance to help shape the country’s first ever social security system by responding to a 13-week consultation. 

In total, 521 responses were received from individuals and a wide range of organisations.

The independent analysis of the consultation responses along with the Scottish Government's response is now available.

Social Security

Our overarching aim is to create a social security system in Scotland that is based on dignity, fairness and respect.  This will be system that helps to support those who need it and when they need it.

The Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare was set up as the vehicle for the transfer of social security powers under the Scotland Act 2016.

Our new social security system will be built with and for the people of Scotland. We are committed to working with and involving organisations and those with the lived-experience of receiving benefits in the ongoing debates and decisions and hearing about what matters to them.

Transferring the devolved benefits to Scotland requires a large programme of transition, of a scale unseen since devolution.   

Our top priority is to ensure the safe and secure transition of the devolved benefits to those who receive them without people experiencing any interruption of services.

Read more about the background to Scotland's new social security system.