Monitoring to assess social security system improvements
The Scottish Government’s move towards a social security system that “works for all who use it” is to be monitored with the introduction of new measurements.
The measures will look at how Social Security Scotland operates and delivers benefits, including how the agency treats clients, if staff are well supported and how systems are working.
They will also look at Scottish Government policy, what the new system is doing as a whole and what is being achieved over the longer term.
The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 required the Scottish Government to establish a charter of what people should expect from the new service. The Social Security Charter measurement framework was co-designed by the Scottish Government, Social Security Scotland and a diverse group of people with lived experience of the social security system.
Information will be gathered from staff, stakeholders and clients themselves to show how well the new social security system is delivering through its charter.
Social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We have an opportunity to do things differently by creating a new social security system that puts dignity, fairness and respect at its heart.
“This financial year we will invest £447 million on benefits and when fully operational Social Security Scotland will support 1.8 million children and adults.
“Clearly setting out what everyone can expect from the new service is important but it is also critical that the people of Scotland know we are delivering on those promises.
“These new measures will provide us with information that will not only let us check the pulse of our social security system but can be used to constantly improve what we are doing.”