Welfare: Joint Ministerial Working Group: June 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Scottish Government
• Andrew Western, Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State (Minister for Transformation), Department for Work and Pensions
• Kirsty McNeil, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Scotland Office

Items and actions

Current Priorities

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP)

●    The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (CCSJ) noted the recent UK Government policy changes on Winter Fuel Payments in England and Wales and that the Scottish Government was now taking forward changes to PAWHP 
●    CCSJ stated that it’s important to continue dialogue as drafting of Scottish Government regulations moves forward. Furthermore, the Scottish Government needed to get an understanding of the tax recovery mechanism in England and Wales to inform its own discussions with HMRC. 
●    CCSJ noted the need for earlier notification and discussion of UK Government changes, recognised that the UK Government needs space to be able to take policy decisions but was very keen to come up with a better way of working when there are implications for the Scottish Government of UK Government changes, for example where there are budgetary implications.
●    The Minister for Transformation (MfT) agreed that officials should look into this issue.

Carer Support Payment Priority Changes 
●    CCSJ thanked officials from both governments for their work on the Carer’s Allowance case transfers. This was one of the most complex transfer of cases to date and the work has been going well. CCSJ noted that case transfers more generally have been one of the areas where both Governments have worked exceptionally well together. This has been a major success in the devolution of social security. The fact that there has been very little said about it publicly is a sign of the fact that it has worked well and gone smoothly. 
●    CCSJ noted that the Scotland Act Order to accommodate further changes to Carer Support Payment in the reserved benefit system is currently on track for March 2026 and asked that Scottish Government Ministers be kept informed if there are any changes to that timescale. 
●    MfT echoed CCSJ’s comments on case transfer and thanked officials from both governments. He described it as being a good example of what can be achieved when both governments work together.
●    MfT confirmed the March 2026 deadline for the Scotland Act Order accommodating changes to Carer Support Payment. 

Future delivery and planning 

Employment Injury Assistance / Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit 

●    CCSJ noted that the first meeting of the Steering Group on Employment Injury Assistance has taken place. 
●    CCSJ thanked the UK Government for extending the agency agreement. 
●    CCSJ noted that the scheme is complex and that she is keen to work closely with the UK Government on areas that remain reserved. 
●    CCSJ noted that the benefit has not been adapted for many years and there is a large crossover with areas that remain reserved. She noted that it is important to remain in discussion around this. 
●    CCSJ said that the Scottish Government will keep DWP and others informed of their thinking around their approach, and in particular of any proposals that come from the Steering Group. 

●    MfT noted that he had been pleased to extend the agency agreement to 2027. 

AOB 

Pathways to Work Green Paper

●    CCSJ noted that the Scottish Government will not be mirroring UK Government changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Adult Disability Payment (ADP). 
●    CCSJ noted that ADP currently gives rise to certain entitlements and additional amounts in reserved benefits such as Universal Credit, in the same way as PIP does in England and Wales. Disabled persons’ groups in Scotland had expressed concern over whether this would continue to be the case as the entitlement conditions for PIP and ADP diverged. She stressed further and rapid dialogue would be important.
●    MfT noted that access to reserved benefits needed to be on a comparable basis for people throughout Great Britain, and agreed the conversation should carry on. 

Mitigating the two-child limit in Universal Credit

●    CCSJ noted that the Scottish Government is moving forward with applications for two-child limit mitigation payments opening on the 2nd March. 
●    CSSJ noted that the Scottish Government will need DWP and Scotland Office’s assistance to move forward with the Scotland Act Order needed to accommodate the introduction of this payment in the reserved benefit system, and sought reassurance that this work is in hand. 

●    MfT noted that work is under way to bring forward the changes that are needed in the reserved benefit system and that clarity on the legislative timetable will follow. 
●    PuSoSS noted that the Scotland Office is on hand to expedite this process however it can.

Review of Universal Credit

●    CCSJ thanked the Minister for Social Security and Disability, in his absence, for very useful discussions on the review of Universal Credit, in particular around Scottish Choices. 

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 

●    CCSJ thanked UKG for discussions on the Bill so far, noting that continued joint work at pace was exceptionally important. CCSJ noted that SG are keen to continue discussions and to be informed of any further amendments as early as possible. 

●    MfT agreed that it is important to maintain a positive dialogue, including on issues on which the UK Government and Scottish Government  disagree.