Question reference: S6W-10138
- Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 2 August 2022
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Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 29 August 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in exploring systems of automatic payment for devolved social security benefits.
Answer
Across the devolved benefits, the Scottish Government is committed to ensuring we minimise as far as possible any burden on clients, and to ensuring we put in place the appropriate mechanisms to maximise uptake.
We have already automated several payments. Child Winter Heating Assistance is paid automatically based on entitlement to the qualifying benefits, and Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments are made automatically to carers living in Scotland and getting Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Additionally, by the end of the year, we will award Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment automatically to eligible families in receipt of Scottish Child Payment, without the need to apply.
We continue to explore further opportunities to automate social security payments.