Social Security Scotland budget and staffing: FOI release
Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.
Information requested
Your request for information 1: The total operational budget of Social Security Scotland in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.
Your request for information 2: The total headcount of Social Security Scotland in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.
Your request for information 3: The total FTE number of staff employed by Social Security Scotland in the Financial Years a) 2022/23, b) 2023/24, and c) 2024/25.
Your request for information 4: The FTE number of staff in the Financial Year 2024/25 earning salaries over a) £50,000, b) £80,000 and c)£100,000.
Response
1. Your request for information 1:
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
I have included below the link to the relevant pages for this information.
| Total Operational Budget – Page Number | Publication Link |
|---|---|
| Page 61 | Social Security Scotland - Annual Report and Account 2022-2023 |
| Page 52 | Social Security Scotland - Annual Report and Accounts 2023-2024 |
| Page 34 | The 2024-25 Autumn Budget Revision - Supporting Document |
It may be helpful to know that our 2024-2025 annual report and accounts is due to be published in November.
Your request for information 2 and 3:
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
All of the information you have requested is available and can be found in Social Security Scotland - Social Security Scotland workforce statistics to March 2025
For ease, the information you are looking for can be found in Table 1 and Table C1.
Your request for information 4:
Please find attached information with regards to your request. We have interpreted your request to relate to Social Security Scotland’s salaries and does not include information on overtime or additional pay supplements.
The information provided represents the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff in Social Security Scotland earning above the outlined salary thresholds as of the end of March 2025. Please refer to this publication to understand specific salary spine points - Scottish Government Main pay ranges 2023 to 2025: FOI release - gov.scot
From the information provided, one deputy director earns over £100,000.
You may find it helpful to know that Social Security Scotland pay scales are determined by and are in line with The Scottish Government. Please see attached link for more information - Public sector pay - gov.scot.
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