1. CREATING A FAIRER SCOTLAND SURE START MATERNITY GRANT

2. Benefit expenditure in Scotland – 2013/14 These figures exclude nearly £400million of expenditure on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Scottish Welfare Fund which are already devolved to the Scottish Parliament. If they are included, total benefit expenditure in Scotland in 2013/14 was around £17.9 billion.

3. Benefits for people out of workBenefits for elderly peopleBenefits for people who are ill or disabled Income SupportFinancial Assistance SchemeAttendance Allowance In Work Credit & Return to WorkPension CreditCarer’s Allowance CreditState PensionDisability Living Allowance Job GrantState Pension TransfersEmployment & Support Allowance Jobseeker’s AllowanceTV LicencesIncapacity Benefit Winter Fuel PaymentsIndustrial Injuries Personal Independence Payment Severe Disablement Allowance Specialised Vehicles fund Statutory Sick Pay Vaccine Damage Payments Benefits for families with childrenBenefits for people on low incomesOther Child BenefitCouncil Tax ReductionBereavement benefits Child Tax CreditDiscretionary Housing PaymentsChristmas bonus Guardians AllowanceScottish Welfare FundUniversal Credit Maternity AllowanceSocial Fund (regulated) Statutory Maternity PayWorking Tax Credit Housing Benefit Benefits to be Devolved

4. Scotland Bill UC Flexibilities agreed Scottish Government policy proposals 2015 New Scotland Act Work continues on transition Scottish Parliamentary legislation begins 2016 UC roll out concludes per UKG timetable Work continues on transition Scottish welfare system emerges 2017 onwards UK General Election Scottish Parliament Elections Scottish Local Government Elections Timetable

6. The Regulated Social Fund

8.  If the parent is under the age of 20 the exclusion is restricted to children of that parent. It does not include the parents siblings or any other children in the household.  If the other children under the age of 16 in the household are not the claimants responsibility and belong to a parent under the age of 20 then they too do not count.  If a mother has one child under 16 and has twins during a second pregnancy she will receive one £500 grant. If she has triplets she will receive 2 x £500 grants.  If a mother has twins from a previous pregnancy and give birth to twins again she will not receive a grant. If her second birth is with triplets she will receive a single £500 grant. Exclusions to the SSMG

9. SSMG Applications & Grants with Approximate Scottish Figures All figures are taken from DWP Annual Reports on the Regulated Social Fund

10.  In 2014/15 there were:  133,000 Applications  66,000 Grants given out UK wide totalling £33.5 million  We estimate that just below 10% or approximately 6,000 Grants were received by applicants in Scotland making spend in Scotland approx. £3.4m Applications

11. What we know about Applicants Qualifying BenefitsUK Awards (000’s)% of Total UK Awards Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related), Job Seekers Allowance (Income Related), Universal Credit and Pension Credit 43,10065% Child Tax Credit (above the Family Element) and Working Tax Credit (including Disability or Severe Disability Element) 23,20035% Data from Annual Report on the Regulated Social Fund 2014/15

12. Trends in Scotland Rising Birth Rate Higher fertility rate than rest of UK Downwards pressures on incomes Continued or increasing need for a maternity grant

14.  Continue gathering evidence to inform policy  Scoping out practicalities of delivery  Liaising with projects in the Social Security Programme What we are doing

15.  Wide options appraisal under way  Range of delivery needs for the benefits being devolved  Data sharing critical for all benefits  Opportunity to learn from DWP  Commitment to respect and maintain the dignity of the applicant  Commitment to working with users on design and improvement e.g. user panels Delivery Arrangements

16.  Tackling child poverty, income maximisation, reducing material deprivation  The importance of early years  Improving infant and maternal health  Policy approach – early intervention, build on the assets base, take a holistic view, test and learn Scottish Policy Context

17.  The purpose of the Scottish grant - to improve the resilience of families on low incomes when faced with the costs of a new child (for the first time), as part of an integrated package of social security, health and social care.  The target group : families on low income who may not have the resources to meet the additional costs of a child  The funding available for the grant will be the same as the spend in Scotland at the moment – around £3m a year. Working Assumptions

18. In the main stakeholders value the grant and see the SSMG as a straight forward benefit which is generally meeting the need. The main concerns were:  The narrowing of the entitlement  Unfairness in relation to qualifying benefits  A short application window  The level of the grant  Pointing out the advantages of a universal grant Stakeholder Views

19. Emerging Logic Model

20.  Use the grant to link users to other services e.g. income maximisation, supported spend, credit unions, advice on baby items/getting most for money  Improve flexibility e.g. option to receive goods rather than cash, extend the window for application.  Improve experience – streamline the process, possible linkage with Healthy Start, online form for people who want it  Use the grant to re-enforce other SG policies eg. To incentivise early booking or to support children who are being adopted and/or in kinship care  For future consideration if money is available – reinstate payments for second and subsequent children, broaden eligibility, a universal grant. Ideas so far for the devolved grant

21.  Gender, pregnancy and maternity - the role of women in family finances, impacts on work and earnings. For example working parent losing an income stream whilst on maternity/paternity leave or caring for the child. Multiple births  Sexual orientation – different sorts of families  Religion and belief – the impact of religious observance on birth control and family size  Race – correlation with poverty, family size and cultural attitudes to birth, asylum seekers  Disability –need for adapted items. Equalities Dimensions

22.  Help fill gaps in our thinking – other options we have not thought of, connections we can make  Help us identify the advantages and disadvantages of the options  Help us understand the possible equalities impacts What we need from you

23.  Dorothy Ogle – dorothy.ogle@gov.scotdorothy.ogle@gov.scot  Michael Sim – michael.sim@gov.scotmichael.sim@gov.scot For more information and sign up to receive our newsletter www.gov.scot/Topics/People/fairerscotland/fut ure-powers Contacts