Reporting

Statistics and Research

We collect, analyse and publish management information, research and statistics on the devolved benefits Social Security Scotland is responsible for delivering. We do this by:

• analysing data held by and produced by Social Security Scotland
• providing analytical advice
• designing, undertaking and commissioning research projects

Our work helps Social Security Scotland, the Scottish Government, and other key users to monitor and improve processes and outcomes for both the users of Social Security in Scotland and wider Scottish society. We will also publish data to give the public access to accurate and impartial information on the characteristics of those applying for and receiving the benefits we deliver, and on our performance. Our work also ensures the organisation fulfils its statutory reporting requirements as a public sector organisation.

Official Statistics

All our statistics publications are defined as official statistics by the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. They are produced to robust professional standards and follow the guidance set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.

Currently our statistics are being published as experimental official statistics. Experimental statistics are defined in the Code of Practice for Statistics as "new official statistics undergoing evaluation. They are published in order to involve users and stakeholders in their development and as a means to build in quality at an early stage".
Some official statistics are also ‘National Statistics’. This means that they have been assessed by the independent UK Statistics Authority and are considered to be fully compliant with its Code of Practice for Statistics. We aim to have our statistics designated as National Statistics in the future.

UK Statistics Authority

The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm's length from government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to Parliament. Its objectives include the promotion and safeguarding of the production, publication, quality and comprehensiveness of official statistics that serve the public good, and ensuring good practice in relation to official statistics.

The Authority is also responsible for developing and maintaining the Code of Practice for Statistics and assessing all official statistics against this Code, before deciding whether they can be designated as 'National Statistics'.

Further details regarding the assessment process can be found in the UK Statistics Authority website.

Statisticians in Social Security Scotland are part of the Scottish Government statisticians group. This means that the governance and frameworks within we work to produce and publish our official statistics are the same. The links below provide further information on the way we work.

[Note that these links will take you to the Scottish Government Statistics webpages]

Policies and procedures

Breaches, exceptions and corrections of official statistics

Guide to Basic Quality Assurance in Statistics

Data access & Confidentiality

Statement of Administrative Sources

Publications and Forthcoming Publications

Timetable of forthcoming publications

Our published statistical reports can be found on the Scottish Government Statistics webpages, and will be signposted from here.

• Carer's Allowance at February 2020 and Carer's Allowance Supplement, April 2020
• Summary statistics for Carer's Allowance at November 2019
• Social Security Scotland – insights research programme: overview (to December 2018)
• Social Security Scotland Standalone People Survey - Highlight Report 2018
• Social Security Scotland Analytical Performance Report 2018-19
• Funeral Support Payment: high level statistics to 30 June 2020
• Social Security Scotland workforce information: June 2020
• Social Security Scotland - client and staff insights: research findings (to September 2019)
• Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: high level statistics to 31 May 2020
• Social Security for Scotland: update March 2020
• Young Carer Grant: high level statistics to 31 July 2020
• Social Security Scotland - Insights Research Findings to March 2020
• Social Security Scotland feedback statistics to 31 March 2020
• Social Security Scotland Client Diversity and Equalities analysis to 31 May 2020
• Summary Statistics: Personal Independence Payment at July 2020

Other Social Security Scotland Statistics and Research pages

Further detailed statistics and research publications produced by Social Security Scotland are available from the publication pages of the gov.scot website.

A programme of Experience Panels research is being run by Scottish Government, to ensure the design of Scotland's social security system is being shaped by people with direct experience of other benefits systems. Publications relating to the Social Security Experience Panels can be found here.

Statistics on the number of people employed by Social Security Scotland are available within the Public sector employment dataset, which is published quarterly by the Office for National Statistics.

Analytical codes of practice

Government analysts are bound by the Civil Service Code and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality. As an addendum to the Civil Service Code, the Government Social Researchers and Statistics Authority codes of practice set out specific principles to guide the work and behaviour of analysts.

Our Charter

Information about our performance against the commitments within the Charter will be available from 2020 onwards in the annual Charter Measurement Framework reports. More information about the Framework can be accessed on the Scottish Government website.

What data we collect

A list of measurements that are already published or are due to be published by the end of 2020 can be found in Social Security Scotland's virtual data pool, which is available to download below.

Enquiries

Please contact management information for further information on Social Security Scotland Analysis and Insights.