 cost £195 million to run in the 2021/22 financial year, up from £130 million in the previous 12 months, with most of the rise attributable to a soaring wage bill. The number of staff employed by the agency more than doubled over the year, from 1,253 to 2,611, leading to salary and pensions costs surging from £42.3 million to £91.7 million. Despite this, complaints by claimants rose by more than 400 per cent and the agency continued to rely on the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver the vast majority of the benefits for which it was responsible. Of the £3.48 billion of devolved benefits paid out last year, only £163 million of payments were made directly by SSS, with remaining £3.32 billion being made 'through agency agreements' with the DWP. The Scottish Tories said the 'wasteful spending' was unacceptable when SNP ministers are imposing 'savage cuts' to public services, including the NHS, and urged ministers to 'fix the flaws in this bloated system'. Devolution of social security A deal was reached after the 2014 independence referendum to devolve parts of social security, including lifeline payments for disabled people, carers, parents and the elderly. Ms Sturgeon pledged a more generous system that treated claimants with 'dignity'. A phased approach was agreed, with the Scottish Government paying the DWP to temporarily deliver some benefits transferred to Holyrood. The devolution of some welfare powers have been delayed pending the completion of the hugely complex and expensive project to set up IT systems to process claims and payments. It emerged in July the IT costs of her new social security agency had surged to more than £250 million, following a rise of £39 million, with the possibility of further inc){kind=link}
Number of staff employed at Social Security Scotland more than doubles and complaints rise by more than 400 per cent
The cost to the taxpayer of running Nicola Sturgeon’s “bloated” benefits agency in Scotland has surged by 50 per cent in the past year after it recruited hundreds more staff, its official accounts have disclosed.
Social Security Scotland (SSS) cost £195 million to run in the 2021/22 financial year, up from £130 million in the previous 12 months, with most of the rise attributable to a soaring wage bill.
The number of staff employed by the agency more than doubled over the year, from 1,253 to 2,611, leading to salary and pensions costs surging from £42.3 million to £91.7 million.
Despite this, complaints by claimants rose by more than 400 per cent and the agency continued to rely on the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to deliver the vast majority of the benefits for which it was responsible.