A Better Welfare System

Dignity, Fairness & Respect

Under the SNP, many areas of social security have been devolved from Westminster to Holyrood. The SNP Scottish Government has used those new powers to establish a whole new welfare system and administrative body, Social Security Scotland.

Every aspect of this was codesigned with service users, with the specific aim of correcting the serious flaws in the UK system under the Department of Work & Pensions. Social Security Scotland is a system built with, for, and around the people who use it.

At its heart are the principles of dignity, fairness, and respect, and a belief that social security is not a burden but an investment in our people. Within just a few years since it began making payments, Scotland’s social security system has made a real impact on the lives of hard-working families across the country.

Social Security Scotland has not only taken on responsibility for certain kinds of payments which were already being provided under the UK system but, rather, has gone further and established several payments unique to Scotland. This means people in Scotland getting additional support not available elsewhere in the UK.

SSS is now administering the Scottish Government’s five family support payments, disability benefits, heating support and help for carers, as well as the Funeral Support Payment and Job Start Payment.

Support for parents and unpaid carers in particular goes significantly further than that offered in other parts of the UK. Ending child poverty is the SNP Scottish Government’s single greatest priority, and the work of Social Security Scotland is central to that.

Moreover, the percentage of services users providing positive feedback when surveyed has been in the nineties, showing that people felt they were treated well – with staff commended for treating people with ‘kindness’, ‘listening’, and showing ‘empathy’.

The SNP will continue to make sure there are long term awards for people with conditions that are unlikely to change, and for those where changes may happen in future we will review cases as simply and efficiently as possible to ensure people are getting the right level of support.