-
97% of people said they received payments on
time
Social Security Scotland has published its Annual Report and
Accounts, which show that it made £641 million in direct payments
to people across Scotland from 1 April 2022 to 31 March
2023.
The payments were made across 13 Scottish benefits, seven of
which are completely new forms of support not available anywhere
else in the UK.
This includes the Scottish Child Payment which has been extended
to eligible children under the age of 16. More than 300,000 young
people are now receiving this payment.
The payments also include the new Winter Heating Payment, which
has helped almost 400,000 people on low incomes with their
heating costs.
The results of an annual survey of clients have also been
published, showing that 93% of people who had been in contact
with Social Security Scotland felt they had been treated with
kindness.
Among those who responded to the survey, 97% said they had
received their benefit payments when Social Security Scotland
said they would and 90% said their experience with staff was
‘very good’ or ‘good’. A further 90% said staff listened to them
and 89% felt they were treated with respect.
In total, the combination of direct payments made by Social
Security Scotland and those paid through Agency Agreements with
the Department for Work and Pensions saw the Scottish Government
invest £4.04 billion in benefits across Scotland.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, ,
said:
“We are supporting families across the country at a time where
they are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and higher
energy bills. We now deliver 13 benefits, seven of which are only
available in Scotland and are delivering these payments while
treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.
“Our decision to expand the Scottish Child Payment to all
eligible young people under the age of 16 and increase the
payment to £25 per week means we are supporting more than 300,000
children and making a significant contribution to tackling child
poverty.
“As we prepare to launch Carer Support Payment, our
14th benefit, we are committed to making sure that
people get the money they are entitled to and that people who are
eligible know how to apply for our payments.”
Chief Executive of Social Security Scotland, David
Wallace, said:
“This last year has been the busiest in our five-year history. We
have significantly expanded our service, including the national
rollout of Adult Disability Payment, the extension of the
Scottish Child Payment and paid Winter Heating Payment for the
first time.
“We are continuing to develop and improve our service. Despite
some challenges with processing times, which we are actively
working to improve, we still maintained high client satisfaction
rates. In our annual Client Survey, 93% of people who
participated told us they were treated with kindness.”
Notes to editors
- Social Security Scotland 2022/23 Annual Report and Account
2022-2023.
- The results of the Client Survey
summary.
-
Charter Measurement
Framework 2022-2023, a framework which tracks how well the
new social security system is delivering on its commitments.
- Payments made last financial year were to clients receiving
Carer’s Allowance Supplement, Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby
Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning payment, Best Start
Grant School Age Payment, Best Start Foods, Funeral Support
Payment, Young Carer Grant, Job Start Payment, Scottish Child
Payment, Child Winter Heating Assistance, Adult Disability
Payment, Child Disability Payment and Winter Heating Payment.
- The payments are outlined in the Social Security Scotland
Annual Report and Accounts 2022/23.
- The Annual Report and Accounts cover the period from 1 April
2022 to 31 March 2023.
