OVER £3.9 billion will benefit more than a million people across Scotland in 2022-23 through the provision of social security, in what Audit Scotland have described as a “significant achievement.”
A new report from the independent oversight body highlighted the delivery of Scotland’s devolved programme of social security benefits, including seven payments unavailable anywhere else in the UK.
The report, emphasising the importance of social security in tackling child poverty, addressing inequalities and combating the cost-of-living crisis, also notes the successful delivery throughout the Covid-19 pandemic of existing social security benefits, as well as the introduction of new ones, such as the Scottish Child Payment.
In line with Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasts, the Scottish Government has allocated over £3.9bn for benefit expenditure over the coming year – over £360m above the level of funding which will be received from the UK Government via the block grant – and will support over a million people as a result.
Responding to the Audit Scotland report, social security minister Ben Macpherson commented: “I am proud that we have built our social security system with the people who will use it, and appreciate that the report acknowledges our focus has delivered a service built on our principles of dignity, fairness and respect.
"The report also notes the positive feedback people have shared about their experiences of engaging with Social Security Scotland.
“We have been ambitious in our delivery timeline – including introducing new benefits while dealing with the pandemic – and we are ensuring that we transfer tens of thousands of cases safely and securely from the DWP to Social Security Scotland.
"As well as delivering benefits now and in the period ahead, we are responsibly and ambitiously developing a new social security system that will serve Scotland for many years to come, putting people at the heart of everything we do.”
