Chamber and committees

We are committed to helping councils significantly expand their workforce to deliver the transformational expansion of funded early learning and childcare from August 2020.

The latest Improvement Service delivery progress report published on the 2 October shows that 4,069 additional FTE staff are now in place, which is almost half of the total estimate required at the end of the expansion.

The updated forecasts in the report indicate that at the national level there has been a reduction in the final number of additional local authority staff (FTE) required. 9.3% fewer additional local authority staff (FTE) are expected to be required at the end of the expansion than had been previously forecast. This is a reduction of 862.3 (from 9320.8 to 8458.5) additional FTE being required nationally by April 2021. This is related to the ongoing development of staffing models and increased proportion of provision being taken in private and third sector settings.

Social Security Scotland staff will receive thorough training and will have access to detailed guidance on how to determine residency status for devolved benefits. Staff’s knowledge and understanding will be continually reviewed, and learning material refreshed based on feedback and learning needs to ensure a high level of competency.

The Scottish Government support for the Scottish Welfare Fund is set out in the Scottish Budget at https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-budget-2019-20/pages/16/

The Scottish Government works in collaboration with COSLA and Local Authorities through the Scottish Welfare Fund Practitioners’ Forum to support practitioners at strategic, regional and local levels.

The Auditor General’s report on the 2018-19 Audit of Social Security Scotland brings to the attention of Parliament issues raised in the Social Security Scotland 2018-19 Annual Audit Report, published by Audit Scotland. Social Security Scotland responses to the points raised by Audit Scotland are contained as Appendix 1 of the Social Security Scotland 2018-19 Annual Audit Report.

Social Security Scotland are working closely with policy officials and the Social Security Programme to turn the residency requirements outlined in the regulations into technical requirements, business processes and guidance to support staff in their decision making.

For the benefits currently delivered by Social Security Scotland, estimates of fraud and error are based on number of overpayments and underpayments caused by either Client error, official error or fraud.

For Carer’s Allowance, which is currently delivered by Department for Work and Pensions through an Agency Agreement, the Department for Work and Pensions’ measurement of fraud and error is used. This is based on a UK-wide survey that was carried out in 1996-97.

The methodology which will be applied to estimating the value of fraud and error for future benefits is currently in development.

To enable us to introduce the Scottish Child Payment quickly, it will be legislated for using regulation making powers in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, to top-up reserved benefits.

As set out in a recent position paper (published on the Scottish Government’s website: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-child-payment-updated-position-paper ) this legal route places a number of constraints on what we are able to do at this time, including a requirement that recipients be entitled to reserved benefits. While some student parents studying in full-time higher education may be entitled to a reserved benefit, and therefore may be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, where they are not we cannot legally make a payment.

The prevention and detection of fraud is key priority for Social Security Scotland, enabled by the design and deployment of robust systems and procedures.

Data contained within our case management system is subject to detailed analysis to identify and respond to anomalous behaviour and ensure the public purse is protected.

The threats we face will evolve in line with the types of benefits we deliver and we will continually work to develop control measures which respond to these threats; protecting our benefits from those who intentionally seek to misuse them.

The methodology which will be applied to estimating the value of fraud and error for future benefits is currently in development.

Benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) form part of the eligibility criteria for several of the benefits administered by Social Security Scotland, including the Scottish Child Payment. Information provided by the DWP about these benefits will therefore inform estimates of the value of fraud and error in our benefit caseload.

The methodology which will be applied to estimating the value of fraud and error for future benefits is currently in development.

Benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions form part of the eligibility criteria for several of the benefits administered by Social Security Scotland. Information provided by the Department for Work and Pensions about these benefits therefore informs estimates of the value of fraud and error in the caseload.