Landmark social security bill published by Scottish Government

Legislation to establish Scotland’s first social security system has been introduced to the Scottish Parliament.

The Social Security (Scotland) Bill will give the Scottish government the powers to deliver eleven benefits devolved as part of the Scotland Act 2016.

It also provides powers to top up reserved benefits and provides a mechanism to pay a Carer’s Allowance supplement at the earliest opportunity.

Publishing the bill, social security minister Jeane Freeman said it represented a significant milestone in the process of transferring these social security powers safely and securely.

Ms Freeman said: “The bill sets out an over-arching legislative framework for the administration of social security in Scotland, making provision for operational functions such as overpayments, fraud, error, re-determinations and appeals.”

It places a duty on the Scottish ministers to give assistance to persons who are entitled to it and provides a brief description of each type of assistance that Scottish ministers will give. Secondary legislation will provide detail on what assistance will be available and how the system will work. This will follow once the bill has been agreed by the Parliament. The legislation is expected to come into force within the current Parliamentary term.

The first social security payments to be delivered by the Scottish government from summer 2018 will be the increased Carer’s Allowance, followed by the Best Start Grant and the Funeral Expense Assistance from summer 2019.