The Winter Heating Assistance (Pension Age) (Scotland) Regulations 2024: scrutiny report

The Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) plays an essential role in the development and delivery of a Scottish Social Security system based on fairness, dignity and respect.

We provide independent scrutiny of the Scottish social security system and our full functions are set out in section 22 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.¹Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)

We provide detailed analysis of proposed social security regulations which are referred to us by Ministers, making recommendations for improvement where necessary.

Our role is also to scrutinise the Scottish Government’s delivery of the commitments set out in the Social Security Charter.²Social Security Scotland – Our Charter

We are separate from the Scottish Government, and we carry out our work independently of both Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish social security principles

SCoSS takes the Scottish social security principles, as laid out in the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, into consideration when scrutinising proposed social security legislation and regulations. The Scottish social security principles are:

• social security is an investment in the people of Scotland,
• social security is itself a human right and essential to the realisation of other human rights,
• the delivery of social security is a public service,
• respect for the dignity of individuals is to be at the heart of the Scottish social security system,
• the Scottish social security system is to contribute to reducing poverty in Scotland,
• the Scottish social security system is to be designed with the people of Scotland on the basis of evidence,
• opportunities are to be sought to continuously improve the Scottish social security system in ways which—
  • put the needs of those who require assistance first, and
  • advance equality and non-discrimination,
• the Scottish social security system is to be efficient and deliver value for money.