The new Social Security Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland was created today, 22 November 2018. The Social Security Chamber will hear appeals from decisions by Social Security Scotland (SSS), an executive agency of Scottish Government, about certain social security benefits.
Social Security Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Website
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment will be the first appealable Scottish benefit to be introduced by Social Security Scotland. Social Security Scotland will be responsible for 11 devolved benefits, and for those where an independent appeal is available, applications will be made to the Social Security Chamber.
Mrs Anne Scott will be assigned as the Temporary President of this new Chamber. Mrs Scott is currently the President of the Tax Chamber, a role she will continue to perform. A new website www.socialsecuritychamber.scot will be launched on 10 December to coincide with the launch of applications for Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, to provide information and assistance for anyone considering making an appeal.
In general, those claiming entitlement to a grant must first seek a redetermination by Social Security Scotland but if dissatisfied with its decision, they may be able to appeal to the Social Security Chamber.
Administration of the new Chamber will be based in the Glasgow Tribunals Centre but the intention is that hearings, where possible, will be available locally to the person appealing the benefit decision.
For people currently applying for the equivalent grant from DWP, arrangement for appeals will continue as at present until Social Security Scotland begin administering the benefit. During the transition, if a person has made an appeal in relation to a DWP decision, this appeal will continue to be managed by HMCTS.
Anyone interested in receiving information about the new Social Security Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland should contact:
First-tier Tribunal for Scotland
Social Security Chamber
Glasgow Tribunals Centre
20 York Place
Glasgow
G2 8GT
Email: sscadmin@scotcourtstribunals.gov.uk
Telephone: 0141 302 5858
Notes for Editors
The Tribunals (Scotland) Act 2014 set up two new tribunals under the remit of the Lord President, the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland and the Upper Tribunal for Scotland. The First-tier Tribunal is divided into chambers and most Scottish tribunal claims will initially be determined within the relevant chamber, in this case the Social Security Chamber. Appeals from the First-tier Tribunal are determined by the Upper Tribunal for Scotland. Some claims may also be made straight to the Upper Tribunal.
The Lord President appointed Lady Smith as President of Scottish Tribunals in 2014. Following commencement of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, the regulations which bring the Social Security Chamber into being are the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Chambers) Amendment Regulations 2018 (SSI 2018/349) published on 21 November 2018.
The following Chambers of the First-tier Tribunal have already been established:
- Housing and Property Chamber
- Tax Chamber
- General Regulatory Chamber
- Health and Education Chamber.
Anne Scott
Mrs Scott has been a Tribunal Judge of the Social Entitlement Chamber of the UK First-tier Tribunal for many years and a legal member of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland since its inception in 2005. Mrs Scott is also a Judge of the UK First-tier Tribunal Tax Chamber. Mrs Scott was formerly a partner in Brander & Cruickshank W.S, a tax partner in Ernst & Young, a Board Member at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and also Aberdeen Harbour Board and a Governor of the Robert Gordon University.
Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency, responsible to Scottish Ministers.
For further information on Scottish Tribunals visit www.scotcourts.gov.uk/the-courts/the-tribunals/about-scottish-tribunals