Recommendation 31

Agency agreements between the Scottish Government and the DWP have been used during the process of the devolution of welfare powers. An agency agreement is used when the DWP delivers benefits which have been devolved to the Scottish Government via legislation, but Social Security Scotland is not yet in a position to administer these benefits to claimants in Scotland. Examples of benefits that have been delivered through agency agreements include Carer’s Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The Cabinet Secretary described this system as a ‘pragmatic way to ensure the continuity of payments’77 for claimants in Scotland. She went on to say that the system allows people who claim these benefits to be ‘paid the right amount at the right time, which when we ask clients is consistently the most important thing for them as we move to devolution’.78 Giving the UK Government’s perspective on agency agreements the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work said that the agreements are ‘in place to make sure, from the public’s perspective, there is no cliff edge’79 and that claimants continue to receive the benefit they are eligible for.