Introductory text

Draft Regulations laid before the Scottish Parliament under section 96(2) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, for approval by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Social Security

Made 2026

Coming into force 18th March 2026

The Scottish Ministers make the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 13 of the Social Security Act 1988^f1, sections 64(1), 70(4), 71(6), 113(1)(a) and 175(1) and (3) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992^f2, sections 4(5), 77(3) and 94(2) of the Welfare Reform Act 2012^f3 and sections 28(2), 31(2) and 32(2) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018^f4 (“the 2018 Act”) and all other powers enabling them to do so.

In accordance with section 13(2) of the Social Security Act 1988, the Scottish Ministers have consulted the Welsh Ministers^f5.

In accordance with section 97(2) of the 2018 Act^f6, the Scottish Ministers have informed the Scottish Commission on Social Security of their proposals, notified the Scottish Parliament that they have done so and made their proposals publicly available by such means as they consider appropriate.

In accordance with section 96(2) of the 2018 Act^f7, a draft of these Regulations has been laid before and approved by resolution of the Scottish Parliament.

Annotations

Footnotes

f1: 1988 c. 7 (“the 1988 Act”). Section 13 was substituted by section 185(1) of the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43) and amended by section 27(5) of the Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11) (“the 2016 Act”). Sections 13 and 15A of the 1988 Act read together with section 175 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4) provide for different provision to be made for different cases or classes of cases. The functions of the Secretary of State, in so far as within devolved competence, were transferred to the Scottish Minsters by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 (c. 46) as read with sections 27 and 32 of the 2016 Act.
f2: 1992 c. 4 (“the 1992 Act”). The functions of the Secretary of State to make regulations to amend the qualifying conditions for disability and carer’s benefits were transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 as read with sections 22(2) and 32 of the 2016 Act. Section 22(2) of the 2016 Act inserted exceptions into the social security reservation in Head F1 of Part 2 of schedule 5 of the Scotland Act relating to carer’s and disability benefits. Accordingly, in so far as the functions under the 1992 Act are exercisable within devolved competence for these benefits, they are now exercisable by the Scottish Ministers instead of by the Secretary of State. Under section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 (c. 5), the Secretary of State is required to refer to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) proposals for regulations under “relevant enactments”, as defined in section 170(5) of that Act. This includes regulations under the provisions of the 1992 Act. As a result of section 33(1) of the 2016 Act, the function of the Secretary of State to consult the SSAC has not transferred to the Scottish Ministers. There is therefore no requirement for the Scottish Ministers to consult the SSAC before making these Regulations.
f3: 2012 c. 5 (“the 2012 Act”). The functions of the Secretary of State, in so far as within devolved competence, were transferred to the Scottish Ministers by virtue of section 53 of the Scotland Act 1998 as read with section 22(2) of the 2016 Act. Section 22(2) inserted exceptions into the social security reservation in Head F1 of Part 2 of schedule 5 of the Scotland Act. Section 32 of the 2016 Act provides the meaning of “pre-commencement enactment” in this context. Accordingly, in so far as the functions under sections 77 and 94 are exercisable within devolved competence, they are now exercisable by the Scottish Ministers. For the purposes of section 172(1) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992, proposals for regulations under “relevant enactments”, as defined in section 170(5) of that Act includes regulations under Part 4 of the 2012 Act. As a result of section 33(1) of the 2016 Act, the function of the Secretary of State to consult the SSAC has not transferred to the Scottish Ministers. There is therefore no requirement for the Scottish Ministers to consult the SSAC before making these Regulations.
f4: 2018 asp 9. The powers to make these Regulations are exercised together by virtue of section 33(2) of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 (asp 10) and the Regulations are subject to the affirmative procedure by virtue of section 33(3) of that Act.
f5: Functions conferred or imposed on the National Assembly for Wales immediately before the first appointment of a First Minister under section 46 of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32) by an enactment contained in an Act were transferred to the Welsh Ministers by paragraph 30(2)(c) of schedule 11 of that Act.
f6: Section 97(2) was relevantly amended by section 20(2) of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025 (asp 2).
f7: Section 96(2) was amended by section 26(2)(a) of the Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2025 (asp 2).