Comment on Audit Scotland report on devolved benefits 

Commenting on Audit Scotland’s report on progress on implementing the devolved benefits, One Parent Families Scotland Director of Policy, Communications and Strategy at Marion Davis said:

“Single parents are much more likely than the average to be in part-time work or out of work, due to their sole caring responsibilities, and as a result a high proportion are recipients of social security.

“For 40% of children in single parent households, there is also a disabled person in the home. 

“This makes the successful roll-out of devolved benefits a key issue for single parent families, who have been repeatedly and unjustly penalised by UK social security policies.  

“It is encouraging that Audit Scotland has found that progress on delivering the devolved benefits is going well, and that a client survey found that respondents made positive comments about the ease, accuracy, or timing of payments.  

“Social Security Scotland have shown a commitment to involving those with direct experience of the benefits system in developing Scotland’s newly devolved benefits.  We were very pleased to have been able to facilitate the involvement of single parents in the design, delivery models and messaging of the Scottish Child Payments and the suite of Best Start Grants. “ 

“Social security can and should be delivered with empathy and dignity for recipients, and this is a positive step in the right direction.

“We also note that the report highlights the huge amount of work still to be done within the planned timeframe.

“We would echo the Auditor General’s recommendations that significant planning, costing, and processes for evaluation should be implemented, to ensure that the worthy aims of Social Security Scotland come to fruition and lift families out of poverty.”