Social Security Programme 2017-2026: Delivery Report
This delivery report outlines work carried out by the Scottish Government’s 2017-2026 Social Security Programme to build Scotland’s new devolved benefits system
The Social Security Journey
Social Security Scotland became operational as an executive agency of the Scottish Government on 1 September 2018, in time to make the first Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments that same month.
It operates from its headquarters in Dundee, a second office in Glasgow, and through a network of locally based staff offering face-to-face support for people to access benefits. Social Security Scotland administers the Scottish social security system, in accordance with the principles in the 2018 Act and the Charter which accompanies it.
Establishing a Social Security System for Scotland
2014
The Smith Commission established
2016
March:
Scotland Act (2016) given Royal Assent
2017
January:
Social Security Programme established
April:
Social Security agency in Scotland outline business case published
June:
Financial Memorandum and original Social Security (Scotland) Bill introduced to Parliament
2018
March:
Recruitment launches for first 80 client advisors
April:
Scottish Parliament unanimously passes the Social Security (Scotland) Bill
September:
Social Security Scotland established
September:
Carer’s Allowance Supplement launches
December:
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment opens for applications
2019
February:
Our Charter launches in a range of accessible formats
April:
Total financial support paid to Social Security Scotland clients reaches £38 million
April:
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment opens for applications
June:
Best Start Grant School Age Payment opens for applications
August:
Best Start Foods opens for applications
September:
Funeral Support Payment opens for applications
October:
Young Carer Grant opens for applications
2020
February:
Social Security Programme business case published
April:
Total financial support paid to Social Security Scotland clients reaches £346 million in financial support
August:
Job Start Payment opens for applications
November:
Child Winter Heating Assistance launched
2021
February:
Scottish Child Payment launched, for children under 6
April:
Total financial support paid to Social Security Scotland clients reaches £3.3 billion
July:
Child Disability Payment launches in pilot areas
September:
First colleagues begin working from Social Security Scotland’s new Dundee headquarters
October:
Child Disability Payment Case Transfer begins
November:
Child Disability Payment opens for applications
November:
Local Delivery service launches across Scotland
2022
March:
Adult Disability Payment launched in pilot areas
June:
Adult Disability Payment case transfers begin
August:
Adult Disability Payment opens for applications nationally
November:
Scottish Child Payment extended and opens for applications for children aged 6-16
December:
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payments start being made automatically to eligible families who receive Scottish Child Payment
2023
February:
Winter Heating Payment launches
February:
Updated Social Security Programme business case published
November:
Carer Support Payment launches in pilot areas
2024
February:
Carer Support Payment Case Transfer begins
April:
47,000 children and teenagers have had their awards moved to Child Disability Payment
October:
Pension Age Disability Payment Pilot launches
October:
Over 200,000 disabled adults have had their awards moved to Social Security Scotland from the DWP
November:
Carer Support Payment national launch
2025
March:
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance launches
April:
Pension Age Disability Payment launch
November:
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment launches
November:
Young Carer Grant extended to 19-year-olds
December:
Case transfer is completed
2026
March:
Carer Additional Person Payment launches
2026
Security Programme closes