Conclusion 29

Despite high-level political agreement to devolve welfare powers, there have been delays to this process. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation noted that ‘the timetable for full control and delivery by Scotland was originally planned for May 2021 but is now timetabled for 2024.’70 The Scottish Government acknowledged this delay saying that it was now their aim to ‘complete the work of delivering the devolved benefits, and transferring existing cases from the DWP to Social Security Scotland, by the end of 2025.’71 The primary reason 58 Q148 59 Scottish Government (WPS0013) 60 Scottish Government, Social Security benefits - update: statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, 17 November 2020 61 Department for Work and Pensions (WPS0021) 62 Department for Work and Pensions (WPS0021) 63 Department for Work and Pensions (WPS0021) 64 Q137 65 Q177 66 Q137 67 Q180 68 Q180 69 Q180 70 Joseph Rowntree Foundation (WPS0019) 71 Scottish Government (WPS0013) Welfare policy in Scotland 19 given for the delay in their evidence is the disruption caused by the covid-19 pandemic. It explains ‘research and testing for future benefits have had to be paused or moved online. Health and social care professionals, whose expertise we need to deliver Disability and Carer’s Assistance, have been rightly redeployed to the frontline.’72 Local Authorities who liaise with Social Security Scotland in providing ‘supporting information on a client’s application, are focused on supporting people during this difficult time’,73 which also contributes to covid-19 related delays. Another reason the Scottish Government give for this delay is that during the pandemic the DWP, whom the Scottish Government find ‘imperative to all our work,’74 have had to ‘divert resources to respond to unprecedented demand for Universal Credit as the economic impact of the pandemic made itself felt.’75 As a result of these delays to the Scottish Government taking full responsibility for devolved benefits