Business Plan 2026-27

Priorities for 2026-27

In line with the strategic objectives set out above, these are our priorities in 2026-27.

Scrutiny of draft social security regulations

We will undertake expert, independent, proportionate evidence-based scrutiny of draft regulations referred to us by the Scottish Government.

We will monitor the volume, frequency and timing of referral of draft regulations to ensure that we have the time, capacity and resources to deliver proportionate scrutiny.

We will review the impact of our previous recommendations on the development of the Scottish social security system.

We will continue to develop our policies and processes to ensure that human rights and the social security principles are central to our scrutiny.

Social Security Charter

We will report on improvements that the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland could make to better deliver expectations in the Charter.

We will consider and engage stakeholders in our future Charter scrutiny.

We will seek opportunities to work with others to further the reach of our Charter scrutiny work.

Work alongside Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Government, Social Security Scotland, Scottish Parliament

We will engage with new Scottish Government Ministers and Members of the Scottish Parliament following the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

We will gather feedback from Scottish Government, Social Security Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament on the impact of our scrutiny and Charter work.

We will work with the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland staff to improve the shared understanding of our role and remit.

We will engage proactively with, and when requested provide evidence to, the Scottish Parliament’s Social Justice and Social Security Committee.

Stakeholder engagement

We will expand the opportunities for stakeholders and people with lived experience to shape our work. 

We will expand the ways we learn directly from stakeholders and people with lived experience on whether people are getting the service that the Social Security Charter says they should expect.

We will gather feedback on the impact of our scrutiny work.

We will pilot an external expert panel.

We will have a presence at relevant events to provide more information to stakeholders and others on our role.

We will make sure that we engage with stakeholders in an inclusive way.

Transparency and accessibility

We will improve the accessibility of our website.

We will continue to improve the readability of our reports.

Governance

We will support the recruitment of two new Board members by January 2027.

We will review our governance and finance at quarterly meetings of the Governance Sub-Committee.

Finance

Our current budget provides funding to cover all expenditure associated with operating as an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body. The SCoSS Board is supported by a secretariat of Scottish Government civil servants. The secretariat, along with our operational costs and members’ fees, is funded from a Commission budget which is provided by the Scottish Government.

In 2026-27, the SCoSS Budget is £550,000. SCoSS will undertake a mid-year review of its budgetary position in what is anticipated to be a challenging financial environment.