Benefit Take-Up Strategy 2026-2031 - CDIA
Scotland’s Benefit Take-up Strategy 2026-31 aims to ensure people get the financial support they are entitled to through a more accessible and joined-up system. The strategy focuses on increasing awareness, access and uptake to reduce poverty and improve wellbeing.
Consumer Duty Impact Assessment
Title of the policy/proposal/decision
Title: Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. Benefit Take-up Strategy October 2026-2031
Purpose of CDIA: To assess the impact of the strategic decision on consumers in Scotland and demonstrate that appropriate regard has been given to the desirability of reducing harm to consumers.
Purpose and desired outcomes: The Strategy is a statutory, five-year strategy to improve benefit take-up in Scotland. It builds on previous Strategies published in 2019 and 2021, documentary evidence and includes learnings from the Seldom Heard Groups Action Plan. Its purpose is to move beyond awareness raising alone and create a more joined-up, proactive and person-centred system based on four priority areas that include:
- Data sharing, signposting and referrals;
- Pre-application support;
- Engagement, awareness raising and outreach; and
- Accessible processes and automation.
The desired outcomes by 2031 are that people:
- Understand their rights and what support they are entitled to;
- Know where and how to access support;
- Feel safe, respected and confident accessing support;
- Do not have to navigate complex systems alone;
- Get the right support at the right time; and
- Experience a faster, simpler and more predictable application journey.
Directorate/Division/Team
Social Security Directorate/Social Security Policy Division/Supporting Access and Reserved Benefits Unit
Contact
Email: Tasneem.Irshad@gov.scot