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Social Security Scotland 6 December 2021

PE1897/D – Reform certain of the procedures for the collection of Council Tax

In response to your enquiry of 8th November 2021, I hope the Committee will find the following information useful.

The Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland are committed to supporting the people of Scotland to receive the benefits to which they are entitled, even where these benefits are not delivered by Social Security Scotland (as is the case for council tax reduction). This commitment is set out in Our Charter (Social Security Scotland - Our Charter).

To support this principle, the Scottish Government has already commenced conversations with Local Authorities about opportunities that might exist to make access to entitlements automatic for clients. As we continue to build our infrastructure, we are exploring opportunities to facilitate the future automation of entitlements at the point of benefit award. For example, we will explore how eligibility for the Scottish Child Payment might allow local authorities to automate entitlement to Free School Meals, School Clothing Grants and/or council tax reduction.

As a further example, we recently launched our Child Disability Payment national service. Our Child Disability Payment award letters signpost clients to the social security website, which gives specific details on additional benefits they may be eligible for and how to apply. This includes council tax reductions.  

The Scottish Government is also developing a Data Sharing Portal which will allow local authorities to check clients’ disability award data to confirm if they are eligible. In addition to this, we are looking at what other data sharing / benefit automation opportunities we may have with local authorities in the future.

I trust that this information provides the Committee with confidence that we are alert to the opportunities that exist as we build and design our services to further enhance and automate support to the people of Scotland.