Poverty and social justice

Annual investment of £20 million to help low income households.

Consultation on our proposals to introduce a new Scottish benefit, Low Income Winter Heating Assistance, to replace the current Cold Weather Payment scheme in Scotland from winter 2022.

Online support for people facing financial difficulties.

First Minister announces £20 payment from April.

£200 million to help children and young people impacted by poverty.

Children's rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) considering the ways which the domestic Covid vaccine certification scheme may engage the rights of children and young people protected under the United Nation's Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Sets out the advocacy service standards required by section 11 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

£41 million Winter Support Fund for low income households.

Benefit take-up strategy published.

Consultation on new approach to prevent food insecurity.

This consultation seeks views on the Scottish Government's vision and approach to ending the need for food banks as a primary response to food insecurity, and invites further suggestions on what more can be done to shape a national plan. Views are sought by 25 January 2022.

Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) scrutiny report on the Disability Assistance for Working Age People Regulations

Scotland’s heat in buildings strategy published.

Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) scrutiny report on the Winter Heating Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021.

Statutory guidance for public sector bodies subject to the Fairer Scotland Duty to help them actively consider how they can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage, when making strategic decisions.

Calls to keep ‘lifeline’ £20-a-week uplift.

This consultation seeks views on achieving this vision and ensuring Fair Work remains at the heart of our labour market interventions, particularly in the context of COVID-19 and EU Exit, by identifying the relevant challenges and opportunities for Fair Work across the Scottish economy.

This consultation is seeking your views on what powers over debt recovery in the devolved social security system should be transferred from the sheriff court to the Social Security Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal.

Guidance for responsible bodies about the exercise of the functions conferred on them by the Period Products (Free Provision) (Scotland) Act 2021.

Draft child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) for the Winter Heating Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 Amendment Regulations 2021.

Draft Fairer Scotland Assessment (FSD) for the Winter Heating Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021.

Equality impact assessment (EQIA) for the Winter Heating Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations.

Around 148,000 children set to benefit.

The Scottish Government's initial response to the final report of the Just Transition Commission. It sets out our long-term vision for just transition and provides details on our National Just Transition Planning Framework.

This guidance describes the responsibilities and expectations for all involved in protecting children and will support the care and protection of children.

Guidance to support child protection committees to reflect, learn and improve child protection systems and practice when a child or young person dies, is significantly harmed, or was at risk of death or significant harm or where effective practice has prevented harm or risk of harm.

This report shows the results of the public consultation on the revised national guidance for child protection in Scotland, and our response to the results.

An easy read version of the National Care Service consultation paper.

This report presents findings from the interim evaluation of Young Carer Grant. It aims to provide learning about the overall implementation of the benefit over the first 18 months of delivery, and the extent to which the short and medium-term policy objectives of Young Carer Grant have been met.

This child rights and wellbeing impact assessment concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.

This child rights and wellbeing impact assessment concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.

This EQIA concerns the £20 million summer offer for children and young people, one of the Scottish Government's 100 Days commitments.

This impact assessment sits alongside the Reducing risks in schools guidance, and considers back to school arrangements for August 2021

First round of £10 million funding for groups affected by pandemic.

This report presents findings from qualitative research conducted with a range of children, young people and parents in vulnerable or seldom heard groups, carried out to explore their lived experiences during and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Young Patients Family Fund will help to offset the cost of travelling to and from hospital during a young inpatient's (up to age 18) stay in hospital and the subsistence required to allow claimants to spend time to support the health and wellbeing of the child or young person.

The Young Patients Family Fund will help to offset the cost of travelling to and from hospital during a young inpatient's (up to age 18) stay in hospital and the subsistence required to allow claimants to spend time to support the health and wellbeing of the child or young person.

A Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) to consider the impacts of the Suspension of Assistance (Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2021.

The Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) considers the impact of the Suspension of Assistance (Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 on businesses, including the third sector.

The Islands Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) considers the draft Suspension of Assistance (Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 in relation to their impacts on people living in the Islands under Section 8 of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) considers potential effects of the Suspension of Assistance (Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 and how it impacts on people with one or more protected characteristics.

Assesses the impact of the Suspension of Assistance (Social Security) (Scotland) Regulations 2021 on socio-economic inequality. It considers issues such as low income, low wealth and area deprivation.

What we know about child poverty in families with a disabled adult or child. This is an easy read version of the summary from our report on Child Poverty in Families with a Disabled Adult or Child. This can be found at Annex B.

Evidence about child poverty in families with a disabled adult or child. The report presents the latest data on the child poverty targets and includes further evidence on the drivers of child poverty among this priority group.

A child rights and wellbeing impact assessment (CRWIA) to consider the impacts of the Disability Assistance For Children And Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021.

Assesses the impact of the Disability Assistance For Children And Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 on socio-economic inequality. It considers issues such as low income, low wealth and area deprivation.

The Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) considers the impact of the Disability Assistance For Children And Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 on businesses, including the third sector.

The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) considers potential effects of the Disability Assistance For Children And Young People (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2021 and how it impacts on people with one or more protected characteristics.

The third annual progress report for 'Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022'.

This document contains the measurement framework with the latest data on the drivers of child poverty. The 23 indicators in the Child Poverty Measurement Framework are intended to monitor these drivers of poverty. They form part of a wider monitoring and evaluation strategy.

Extra cash for Carer’s Allowance recipients.

Latest National and Official Statistics published.

Commitment to tackle inequality.

Evaluation of Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland’s second tier advice, information and training services.

Investment in digital inclusion exceeds £48 million.

Over £3 million for money advice services in GP surgeries.

Report outlines link to people losing their homes.

Further £7 million to combat inequality.

More than £37 million to support low income households.

Response to United Nations call for urgent action.

Criteria extended for Self-Isolation Support Grant.

 £3.3 million to help children’s charities this winter

People to receive phone calls offering support.

Connecting Scotland programme funding to expand to £43 million.

£2.4 million of new funding to help households with money problems.

Annex C: child poverty among lone parent families.

The second annual progress report for 'Every child, every chance: tackling child poverty delivery plan 2018-2022'.

£15 million to help 23,000 more households get online.

Additional £27.6 million to help feed pupils and other key groups.

UK government urged to strengthen social security system.

Schools and local authorities receive funding boost.

Focus on equality, human rights and social justice.

Further support for food distribution network FareShare.

Celebration of community helpers.

Additional funding for vital specialist services during COVID-19 outbreak.

£350 million fund to support welfare and wellbeing.

Funding for social enterprises to tackle local issues.

Range of measures to help those who need it most is dependent on budget passing.

Scotland leading the way on access and removing stigma.

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Experimental Official Statistics published.

Campaign launched to tackle the stigma around periods.

Money could be better spent on more anti-poverty measures in Scotland.

Progress made on the Fairer Scotland action plan published in 2016.

Empowering local communities.

Social programmes to share £1.8 million funding.

Joint action plan by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

Plans for the creation of new benefit outlined.

Funding for 500 clubs to supply products.

Policy and delivery developments to date on the Scottish Child Payment.

Communities Secretary calls for urgent UK Government action.

Extra £1 million for community projects which help low-income households to eat.

Millions of free period products delivered.

New funding for childcare and employability to cut child poverty.

New funding to tackle period inequality.

Rural communities to benefit from digital hub.

Informal guidance for policy makers on equality and human rights budgeting. The booklet challenges policy makers to systematically think through 6 key questions to identify ways in which budget decisions could be improved to advance human rights and address inequalities. Budget decisions include both those made about the money we spend and decisions about how revenue is raised.

Free financial advice service helps low income households save more than £6 million.

Access to healthy food and activities for more children.

This toolkit contains an overview of the delivery of devolved benefits, delivery timetable, factsheets and information on spreading the word about devolved benefits.

Funding for food and activities during the summer break.

Children under six set to gain from 2021.

More support for families on low incomes.

Additional £5.5 million funding.  

Fuel Poverty Bill passes Stage 3.

Full Best Start Grant package now available.

Call for radical action from UK Government after damning independent report.

New funding for reusable sanitary products project.

Funding to make homes more energy efficient.

Funding for food during school holidays.

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Estimates of the proportion of people living in persistent poverty in Scotland between 2010 and 2017.

Estimates of the number and proportion of people living in poverty in Scotland in 2015-18.

National and Official Statistics published

Households around the country to benefit from support.

Our action plan setting out a list of actions that will be taken to address the many drivers of the gender pay gap.

Appointment to support work to reduce poverty.

£500k for food distribution services around the country

New benefit to be introduced from June.

Summary of the Fairer Scotland Duty assessment that was undertaken with regards to the Early Years Assistance (Best Start Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019.

£4 million extra funding

We are seeking views on the proposals to help address some concerns identified with the operation of Protected Trust Deeds.

Fair Food Transformation Fund (FFTF) was set up to support initiatives aimed at reducing food poverty and reliance on emergency food aid.

Further funding to support children during school holidays.

Progress being made to make Scotland fairer.

Social Security Scotland will learn from Scotland-India partnership

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Pre-screening notification of the environmental effects of our Programme for Government 2017-2018 commitment to provide access to free sanitary products.

We are consulting on the development of the policy and regulations for the Young Carer Grant, a new benefit which will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.

Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) of our 2017-2018 commitment to provide access to free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities.

Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of our 2017-2018 commitment to provide access to free sanitary products in schools, colleges and universities.

New £5 million scheme to fight period poverty.

Guidance on funeral costs.

Funding to grow world-leading sector.

Agreement will remove financial burden from families

Thousands to benefit from minimum £100 grant.

Scottish Welfare Fund helps hundreds of thousands of families.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Every child, every chance.

Long-term risk due to UK Government welfare cuts.  

National and Official Statistics published

Insight from former Chair of Social Mobility Commission. 

Women need confidence in reporting procedures.

‘Broken’ benefits system failing Scotland’s families.

Draft strategy open for consultation.

Figures highlight impact of UK Government cuts.

Action to make women and girls equally safe.

First progress report of Fairer Scotland Action Plan.

Consultation launches.

Funding to tackle poverty.

Short report summarising the key findings from the Scottish household survey 2016: annual report.

Results from the 2016 edition of the continuous survey based on a sample of the general population in private residences in Scotland.

People to have say in the design of their area.

Issued on behalf of the Poverty and Inequality Commission.

Report focusing on the financial impacts of UK welfare policy on families with children.

Information on the backgrounds of the members of the Poverty and Inequality Commission.

Formal opening for visitor centre.

Acceptances up 13%.

Action plan to tackle funeral poverty and make more affordable funeral options available.

DFM praises project to close the poverty-related gap.

254,000 individual households supported through Scottish Welfare Fund. 

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Case of Wendy Patricia Graham referred to the High Court of Justiciary.

Public sector to do more to reduce inequalities.

An easy-read version of our consultation on how public bodies are working to tackle poverty and inequality.

We are seeking your views on how public bodies are working to tackle poverty and inequality.

Describes the Scottish Government’s approach to strengthening Scotland’s equality evidence base.

Aberdeen pilot for low-income women and girls.

Recommendations for improving the life chances of young people from less advantaged backgrounds.

Evidence review commissioned by the First Minister's Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality.

A paper from the Scottish Government setting out the form and remit of the Commission, and appointments made to date.

Update from the Independent Advisor on Poverty and Inequality on progress made in reducing the number of people living in poverty in Scotland.

New report examines evidence of impact in Scotland.

Equalities Secretary Angela Constance addresses the Joseph Rowntree Foundation conference on Scotland's inclusive economy.

Landmark legislation published.

Review into death of Liam Fee

Booklet setting out what we know about child poverty compared to what the public think.

Work training helping young people get lives on right track.

Civil Litigation Bill introduced.

New measures to support job opportunities for disabled people

More than 2,000 people recruited.

Profit-making private firms won’t carry out benefit assessments.

Collection of the analysis and evidence behind the Ministerial Statement on Scotland's social security agency, made on 27 April 2017.

Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman addresses Parliament on Scotland's new social security agency.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Equalities Secretary speaks out on ‘outrage’ of UK’s approach to asylum.

Research strategy to improve attainment.

Equality has taken ‘massive step backwards’ says Minister.

Action plan to boost Scotland’s burgeoning social enterprise sector.

Scottish Government will not apply two child cap to Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Scottish Government will not apply two child cap to Council Tax Reduction Scheme.

Small grants help fight global poverty.

Sets out 13 different ‘types’ of poverty across three life stages: families with children, working age households without children, and pensioner households.

Support for young people at risk of being pushed into homelessness.

Payments system causing hardship in Scotland.

£200k towards supporting families in South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia.

18,000 people to be invited to give views on social security system.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

A National Statistics Publication for Scotland.

An Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Forest fairy tale scene finds favour. 

Call for projects in Zambia and Rwanda.

Grants to support 29 community projects across country.

New support to help those struggling with high energy bills.

New campaign to raise awareness of support available.

£58 million to combat UK Government’s welfare cuts.

Scotland’s approach to be shaped by people using current system.

Uncertainty for sector in light of Brexit.

Summary of the analysis of written responses to the consultation on Social Security in Scotland.

Analysis of responses to a public consultation to inform the content of the new Scottish Social Security Bill.

£1.9m available for community groups to tackle poverty.

Minister for Social Security Jeane Freeman MSP delivers a speech introducing Scotland's Social Security Bill.

Future of Scottish sites to be discussed.

Results of the Scottish Government's equality impact assessment on the policy development of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill.

Scottish Government's assessment of the impacts on children's rights and wellbeing of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Bill.

Analysis of the ownership of wealth by private households in Scotland from the Wealth and Assets 2006–2014 survey.

Unaccompanied child refugees welcome in Scotland.

Ambition to end cycle of poverty.

Rising inequality emphasises need for action.

£120 million Pupil Equity Funding.

Individual school allocations worth thousands.

£116 million allocated to help low income households.

Bursary protected for Scotland’s student nurses.

£1.5 million for more nursery teachers and graduates in deprived areas.

£350,000 to make fresh and healthy food available

New powers to be used to meet needs of people of Scotland

700th Living Wage employer accredited.

Evidence-based interventions to drive improvement.

Minister urges UK Government rethink.

Annual report and consultation responses published.

People encouraged to remember the elderly.

Focus on tackling poverty premium.

97,000 households move out of fuel poverty

Response to recommendations by independent working group on food poverty.

Finance Secretary urges UK Government to protect low-income families from continued welfare cuts.

Better advice and support for planning funerals.

First Minister announces new rate that will benefit thousands of staff in Scotland.

£9.2 million given out during times of crisis.

Cashback for Communities to benefit 40 groups.

Response to Personal Independence Payment review highlights 65% of appeals are successful.

Tackling rising cost of funerals important to help bereaved loved ones.

This consultation sets our proposals for a Child Poverty Bill.

Low income families ‘a priority.’

More than 200,000 households helped thanks to scheme.

Treating people justly and fairly.

National Statistics on poverty in Scotland for 2014/15.

Homeless applications also reduced.

A National and Official Statistics Publication for Scotland.

Scotland leads way in UK.