Social Security (SCoSS) What is SCoSS? The Social Security - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS)

What is SCoSS?

• The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018

established the Scottish Commission

• n Social Security (SCoSS) as an

advisory non-departmental public body

• It is independent of Government and

Parliament but has a relationship with both.

• The Commission declared itself ‘open

for business’ in February 2019

“As we continue to build a Scottish social security system it is

• nly right that we are

held to account for the decisions we take”.

Who we are

Dr Mark Simpson is lecturer in Law at Ulster University, researching social security and human rights Judith Paterson is Head of Advice and Rights (Scotland) for Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland (CPAG)

Sally Witcher (Chair) is CEO of Inclusion Scotland

Sharon McIntyre is Director of Operations at Changeworks

What we do

• We scrutinise certain regulations that

relate to benefits or assistance in the Act

• We check if they reflect the principles in

the Act and human rights

• We also have to report, from time to time

(we can decide when) on whether expectations in the Social Security Charter are being met, and make recommendations for improvement if they aren’t

How will SCoSS carry out scrutiny?

• We have to write a report, the Scottish

Government has to respond, and both go to the Parliament when the regulations are laid

• Our report will make observations and

recommendations about the draft regulations

• Scottish Government may amend the

regulations to take account of our

• recommendations. If not, it may explain in its

response why it hasn’t

Which regulations will we scrutinise?

• Carer’s assistance
• Cold-spell heating assistance
• Winter heating assistance
• Disability assistance
• Early years assistance
• Employment-injury assistance
• Funeral expense assistance
• Housing assistance
• Short-term assistance

Regulations on assistance under the Social Security Scotland Act

Ways of working

• Engage across Scotland
• Accessible and inclusive communications
• ‘No surprises’.
• Add value to existing consultation and

scrutiny processes

• Scrutiny framework
• Importance of monitoring, evaluation and

expanding the evidence base - to see meaningful impact for people who rely on social security

Scrutiny framework

• Relevant to scrutiny of regulations and Charter
• Principles and human rights cover development process, content and

continuous improvement

• Sections in the scrutiny framework:
• Overview
• Policy intention
• Policy development
• Policy design
• Policy delivery
• Policy impact and improvement
• Comments welcome!

Outline of process

• Lead policy officials meet with SCoSS at an early stage
• SG consultation on policy direction/ draft regulations
• Any additional information such as impact assessments
• If consultation on draft regulations, revised in light of consultation
• Draft regulations (in as final form as possible at this stage) formally referred

to SCoSS, along with supporting documentation

• SCoSS may want to consult, get advice, etc
• SCoSS submits scrutiny report, SG draft response, regulations laid
• Social Security Committee may take evidence, decides whether to

recommend approval.

Questions?

Contact details

• Lead secretary: Terry Shevlin, terry.shevlin@gov.scot
• Deputy secretary: Fiona Lodge, fiona.lodge@gov.scot
• Web-site (temporary): https://www.gov.scot/groups/scottish-

commission-on-social-security/

• Twitter: @TheSCoSS