The Regulated Social Fund will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Bill, currently progressing through Westminster. The Regulated Social Fund is made up of: Funeral Payments, Sure Start Maternity Grant, Cold Weather Payments and the Winter Fuel Payment. This briefing gives an overview of these benefits and the debate so far over their devolution. It also looks briefly at proposals to devolve other measures related to welfare foods and fuel poverty.
The Scottish Government intends to publish a paper in the new year setting out its social security proposals. Should the SNP be successful at the Scottish Parliament election in May 2016, a Social Security Bill will be introduced in the first year of the next Scottish Parliament.
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Published: 08 December 2015