Benefits delivery set to get much tougher, says spending watchdog

The Scottish Government has done a good job of delivering its first set of devolved benefits, but the real challenge is still to come, spending watchdog Audit Scotland warns in a report published today.

Carers and new parents successfully received payments in 2018 and the country’s new benefits agency, Social Security Scotland, was set up. But bringing in early benefits was harder than expected.

The Auditor General for Scotland says the government does not yet have a clear picture of what will be needed to make the next, much more complex, set of benefit payments.

Constant short-term pressures and a high pace of work has left civil servants little time to pause and refocus their activity. That poses risks to the overall delivery of future benefits.

Caroline Gardner, the Auditor General for Scotland, said: “The government has done well to date but has had to work flat out to reach this point, leaving little time to draw breath and plan for the challenges ahead.

“The social security team is doing the right things to address that issue, but it hasn’t yet got a clear understanding of what’s needed to deliver the more complex benefits to come, or how much it will cost. Many decisions about future benefits are still to be made and it’s critical that detailed plans are now put in place.”

The Scottish Government is confident it can meet the challenges ahead.  Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Our aim from the start has been to get social security right for Scotland – in a way that treats people with dignity and respect and protects people and payments.

“In just a year and in the face of considerable complexity, this report recognises we have done well to launch a new benefits service for Scotland. It also highlights the challenge we face as we scale up to deliver the next round of payments.

“I have always been clear, just as my predecessors were, that we don’t underestimate the challenges and complexities ahead, but we have also always recognised the opportunity we have to change social security for the better for Scotland.

“We have delivered everything we promised. We have established a new public service with Social Security Scotland up and running with 400 staff working to deliver payments and using the infrastructure which is the foundation for our delivery of future benefits. We also have a Social Security Charter and Commission.

“By the end of this year we will have delivered three of the 11 devolved benefits and four brand new payments to Scottish people most in need – from families with young children, carers helping in our communities and those mourning their bereaved.

“I value Audit Scotland’s views and am pleased we are already taking action that responds to their recommendations. While we recognise there is much more to do – our track record shows we can meet the challenge ahead.”