ALLIANCE responds to Social Security Amendment Bill calls for views
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 10th January 2024
Proposals to put the Scottish Child Payment on a firmer statutory footing and enhance choice and accountability are welcome.
Following the publication of the Social Security (Amendment) Bill, the ALLIANCE have responded to calls for views from the Social Justice and Social Security and the Finance and Public Administration Committees on the bill’s proposals and accompanying financial memorandum. We submitted a response to the Scottish Government’s pre-legislative consultation on the Bill, and consider that many of the proposals align closely with our recommendations.
After certain powers relating to social security were devolved to Scotland, the Social Security Scotland (Act) 2018 provided a strong yet flexible framework for the delivery of devolved payments. This flexibility has been used by the Scottish Government to make some much-needed changes to how the social security system works, in particular explicitly embedding the principle that social security is a human right.
There remain however improvements that can be made to the system. Although many of these would relate to secondary legislation or to operational policies, we recognise the need for some changes in primary legislation. In our response, the ALLIANCE:
- Welcomed the proposal to establish “childhood assistance” as its own category of payment, allowing greater flexibility in delivering the Scottish Child Payment than current “top up” arrangements.
- Welcomed the introduction of more choice and accountability within the system, including the ability to withdraw a re-determination request and to challenge liability for overpayment.
- Cautioned that proposals relating to fraud and error only be applied where strictly necessary, and that individuals are reminded of their right to independent advocacy and/or advice in such circumstances.
- Called for the establishment of a successor to the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group (DACBEAG) to provide independent advice on social security on a permanent basis.
- Urged a wider review of disability and carer payments after the end of the safe and secure transition, and to rapidly progress work towards a Minimum Income Guarantee.
You can find the full responses via the resource links below.
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