Nationality of Social Security Scotland clients receiving benefits: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
The names of the countries foreign nationals, claiming various benefits in Scotland, have arrived from and the types of benefits they are in receipt of.
Response
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested.
Social Security Scotland only captures details of the country clients moved to the United Kingdom from, when the applicant states in their application that they have not lived here since birth. This can be seen in the attached excerpt of our Carer’s Support Payment application form – “You’re right to live in the UK”.
We will not capture this information where the applicant is eligible for a benefit because they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Therefore, we do not hold this information for Best Start Grant, Best Start Foods, Funeral Support Payment, Job Start Payment, Scottish Child Payment, and Young Carer’s Grant.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested.
We were however able to undertake this analysis, where we do record this information for our disability benefits. Please find attached a document containing the list of countries Social Security Scotland clients have said they moved from, where a nationality other than ‘British Citizen’ was stated, and the benefits they receive.
Please note that Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Winter Heating Payment are not included on this list. This is because the eligibility for these benefits is confirmed by the Department of Work and Pensions and nationality is not a data field Social Security Scotland receives as part of that information.
About FOI
The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.
Contact
Please quote the FOI reference
Central Correspondence Unit
Email: contactus@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000
The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG