扒哥吃瓜

Key personnel	Name	Role
Author	[Redacted]	[Redacted]
Owner	Ally MacPhail听听	听
Martin Brown	Deputy Director,听Organisational Strategy听and听Performance,听Social Security Scotland听听	听
DWP听Director for Retirement Services	听	听

Document change control听

Version	Date issued	Summary of changes
V5.0	04/03/2026	Final Draft version

1. Parties

1.1 This Service Level Agreement (hereafter referred to as 鈥榯his Agreement鈥�) is entered into between the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions of Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9NA and the Scottish Ministers of St Andrew鈥檚 House, Regent Road, Edinburgh EH1 3DG acting in some instances through Social Security Scotland.

1.2 References to the Scottish Government (SG), the Scottish Ministers or Social Security Scotland will, as appropriate, be read as also including reference to each of the other entities.

1.3 References to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions shall be read as including reference to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), as appropriate, and vice versa.

2. Scope and principles

2.1 This Agreement sets out the provisions of the relationship between Scottish Ministers and DWP in relation to delivery of Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement for Carer鈥檚 Allowance Customers with Transitional Protection who:

• are resident in Scotland

• return to Scotland from residing abroad and have a Genuine Sufficient Link to Scotland

• move to Scotland from England or Wales

As outlined in the Carer鈥檚 Allowance Transitional Protection Agency Agreement as referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement. DWP will provide the services to support this in paras 2.1.1 鈥� 2.1.5 below. 鈥楾he Services鈥� in (Annexes 1 to 3).

2.1.1 Under the associated Data Sharing Agreement, DWP will provide data to enable Social Security Scotland to make a Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement payment to people resident in Scotland who benefit from Transitional Protection and will continue to be entitled to Carer鈥檚 Allowance on specific eligibility dates.

2.1.2 DWP will deal with customer enquiries relating to Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement by sign posting customers to Social Security Scotland.

2.1.3 DWP and Social Security Scotland shall work in partnership to ensure that the Services are delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

2.1.4 The partnership will seek continuous improvement in delivery standards including sharing lessons from delivery of the Services insofar as relevant.

2.1.5 Each Party will act transparently and will work in a practical way in regards to reaching mutual agreement on any issues that may arise.

3. Duration

3.1 The Initial Agreement commenced on 3 September 2018 and lasted for two years, until 3 September 2020 and was extended for a further two years until 31 December 2022.

3.2 The previous Agreements were effective from 1 January 2023 and remained effective up to and including 31 March 2026.

3.3 This Agreement replaces the previous Agreement. It shall be effective from and including 1 April 2026 (鈥渢he Commencement Date鈥�) and, unless terminated earlier in accordance with its terms, will remain in force until there are no further cases in Scotland where Carer鈥檚 Allowance customers with Transitional Protection is being paid (鈥渢he Term鈥�). Unless terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement shall remain in force for an indeterminate period.

3.4 This Agreement may be varied, by mutual written agreement of each Party at any time during the Term. Variations to this Agreement will be agreed by each Party and no additional/further work will be undertaken until principles for funding the work are agreed.

3.5 For the avoidance of doubt, any variations agreed between the parties must be put forward in writing and shall form an amendment to this Agreement.

3.6 In the event of DWP or Scottish Ministers choosing to terminate this Agreement, DWP and Scottish Ministers shall prepare and agree an appropriate exit plan for the termination of the Services which will seek to ensure no impact on the delivery of Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement.

3.7 Each Party will provide twelve (12) months鈥� notice of termination in writing.

4. Derivation

4.1 This Agreement forms an annex to the 鈥楳emorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Scottish Ministers (SM) and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (SSWP) on joint working arrangements covering the implementation of devolved provisions in the Scotland Act 2016 relating to Social Security and Employment Support Services in Scotland鈥�, and is to be read in conjunction with the following documents, and any subsequent arrangements which are agreed and support this Agreement, insofar as they are not replaced or terminated in the future:

Document	Version/Date
Concordat听between the听Department for Work and Pensions and听the听Scottish Government	March 2020
Memorandum of Understanding and Supplementary Agreements on Devolution between the United Kingdom Government, the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh听Ministers听and the Northern Ireland Executive Committee听(MoU on听Devolution)	October听2013
Memorandum of Understanding between听Scottish听Ministers听(SM) and听Secretary of State听for Work and Pensions (SSWP)听on joint working arrangements covering the implementation of devolved provisions in the Scotland Act 2016 relating to Social Security and Employment Support Services in Scotland听(鈥�SM/SSWP听Single MoU鈥�)听and the听following听Annex:听 Carer鈥檚 Allowance Transitional Protection听for customers resident in Scotland听Agency Agreement听 [Redacted]	January 2023
Initial听Service Level Agreement听(including variations of that Agreement from time to time)听between听the Secretary of State for听Work and Pensions and Scottish Ministers in respect of Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement 鈥� V1.0听(the 鈥業nitial Agreement鈥�)	March 2023
Memorandum of Understanding Between听The听Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and The Scottish Ministers acting through the Scottish Government and on behalf of Social Security Scotland in relation to听benefit听accounting and reconciliation services provided to the Scottish Ministers	March 2020
The听Agreement听between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government on the Scottish Government鈥檚 铿乻cal framework	August 2023
Scottish Devolution:听A听Framework for Audit and Accountability	March 2019
Scottish Devolution: Financial Arrangements for Formal Agreements	April 2025
DWP听and听SG Joint Communications Framework	December 2023
Financial Services Category Memorandum of Understanding between the Department for Work and Pensions and Scottish Ministers.	March 2023
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

5.听Revision to this agreement听听听

5.1 DWP agrees to inform听Scottish Ministers听as soon as听reasonably听practicable听in advance of any potential changes that may听impact听on or require changes to the听Services.听听听

5.2 Each听Party听would need to agree whether a revision to this Agreement is听required.听Subject to听Paragraph听3.4听and 3.5听above.听听听

5.3 Any mutually agreed minor changes or amendments听to this Agreement, will be dealt听with through normal means of communications听by听the single point of contacts听(SPoCs).听

SPoCs听for each听Party are as follows:听

SG听SPoC	DWP听SPoC
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

5.4 Where more听significant change听is听required, the听SPoCs听will apply the appropriate Business听as Usual (BAU) change control processes. Where the change is agreed it will be incorporated into this Agreement as an amendment following any review.听As detailed in Paragraph听3.4听and 3.5听above.听听

6.听Disputes听

6.1 Each听Party to this Agreement will notify the other of any issues, concerns or complaints听regarding听any matter covered by this Agreement.鈥疻herever possible, these difficulties will be resolved by the process of consultation set out in the 鈥�SM/SSWP Single MoU鈥� as referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.鈥疘n the event of听a formal escalation of an issue, the process for dispute resolution is outlined in Section 6 of the听鈥�SM/SSWP听Single听MoU鈥�.听听

7.听Revision to the IT requirements

7.1 If a request for change is听required听by SG, this can be requested by contacting:听

[Redacted]听

DWP Digital should be engaged to triage the request and, where听appropriate,听the proposer听will be directed to complete听either a听Digital Planning Forum template (DPF) or an operational change request, which听can be requested by contacting:听听

[Redacted]听

7.2 Once the request is completed it will be allocated听to the correct team(s) to review and impact to determine听whether or not听it can be agreed.

8.听Roles and responsibilities

8.1 Social Security Scotland听will, as set out in this Agreement:听

8.1.1 Be responsible for听payment听to DWP for听鈥榯he Services鈥櫶齣n accordance with听paragraph听12听(Financial Arrangements)听

8.1.2 Inform DWP听as soon as reasonably practicable if they听become aware of any deficiency in the quality of听the听Services delivered under this Agreement and seek to agree听steps to resolve such听issues.听

8.1.3 Work in partnership with DWP in respect of any potential changes to the听delivery of Carer鈥檚 Allowance听Supplement听with Transitional Protection as听these听may听impact听on听the Services.听

8.1.4 Be responsible for听the effective identification and management of risks arising from the delivery of the听Services.听

8.2 For the avoidance of doubt, each Party acknowledges听that the Scottish Ministers will retain responsibility for the delivery of听Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement.

8.3 DWP听will, as set out in this Agreement:听

8.3.1 Deliver听the Services听in accordance with听the terms of this Agreement.听听

8.3.2 Work听in partnership with听Scottish Ministers听in respect of any potential changes to Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement听with Transitional Protection that may听impact听on or require changes to the Services.

8.3.3 Inform听Scottish Ministers as soon as reasonably听practicable听if听they听become aware of any deficiency in the quality of the Services delivered under this Agreement and take steps to resolve such issues.听

8.3.4 Be听responsible for the effective identification and management of risks arising from the delivery of the听Services.

9. Service delivery standards听听

9.1 DWP will deliver the听Services听in accordance with听the Service Delivery Standards听set out听below.听听

9.2 DWP will provide the data items via听secure听email in accordance with the associated Data鈥疭haring Agreement, and as detailed in听Annex听1听of this Agreement.鈥�听

9.3 Any identified handoffs听between Social Security Scotland and DWP Carer鈥檚 Allowance Unit are operated听via email through a secure centralised inbox, as听referenced in the听associated听Data Sharing Agreement, using the Carer鈥檚 Allowance Supplement exceptions team referral form.听The turnaround time for responding to email and handoffs is听3 working days.听听

9.4 The听emails听within the secure centralised inbox听will be checked regularly in accordance听with DWP听BAU听processes, as detailed in听Annex 1.听听

SPoCs听for each听Party are as follows:听听

SG Inbox	DWP Inbox
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

9.5 Where听Scottish Ministers听identify听an issue with a Global Unique Identifier (GUID), Scottish Ministers and DWP will follow the听process to provide each other with relevant information, as detailed in听Annex 2.听听

SPoCs听for each听Party are as follows:听听

Social Security Scotland Inbox	DWP Inbox
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

9.6 When DWP听identify听an eligible client who is transitionally protected, Scottish Ministers and DWP will follow the process to provide each other with relevant information, as detailed in听Annex听3.听听

SPoCs听for each听Party are as follows:听听

SG Inbox	DWP Inbox
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

9.6 Escalation听of any concerns or issues with the听operational听services听will be between听SPoCs听at Team Management Level between Social Security Scotland and DWP听operational听teams in appropriate cases including,听but not limited to, where:听听听

9.7 Service Delivery Standards have not been met,听e.g. timescale for response is not听met听within 3 working days.听听

9.7.1 Exceptional听cases where the normal Service Delivery Standards听would have an unacceptable impact on the customer.听These exceptions are contained are听contained and detailed within the associated听Data Sharing Agreement.听

SPoCs听for each party are as follows:听

SG听SPoC	DWP听SPoC
[Redacted]	[Redacted]

10.听Management review

10.1 Each听Party听will act transparently and work in a practical way in the spirit of co-operation, trust, respect and confidentiality,听in听regard to听any issues that may arise. In general,听the working arrangements covered by this Agreement should be reviewed at least every听twelve (12)听months during the period this Agreement is in place.听This may involve meetings between each party at a working level.听

11.听Complaints听听

11.1 Each听Party will follow their defined BAU Customer/Client complaints procedures.听听听

12.听Financial arrangements听

12.1 DWP听will recharge Scottish Ministers agreed costs associated with the delivery of the Services. The agreed financial arrangements and costs are contained in the 鈥楽cottish Devolution: Financial Arrangements for Formal Agreements鈥櫶齛s referenced in Section 4 (Derivation)听of this Agreement.听听

13.听Audit arrangements

13.1 DWP and听Scottish听Ministers听will abide by the principles of audit and accountability as set out in the document听鈥楽cottish Devolution: A Framework听for Audit听and Accountability鈥�,听as referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.听听

13.2 DWP and听Scottish听Ministers听remain听subject to their听overall听existing accountabilities to, respectively,听the听UK听and Scottish Parliaments, and their associated audit bodies.听听

13.3 DWP and Scottish Ministers will abide by the principles in听鈥楾he Agreement between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government on the Scottish Government fiscal framework鈥櫶齛s referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement:听Paragraph听29 which states that 鈥楢ll costs incurred by the UK Government where the Scottish Government is expected to meet the cost will be subject to audit.鈥櫶�

13.4 DWP, Social Security Scotland, National Audit Office and Audit Scotland have agreed the Special Purpose Audit Framework is being used as set out in the 鈥楩inancial Arrangements for Formal Agreements鈥� document,鈥痑s referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.听

14.听Communications听

14.1 Communications听in relation to Carer鈥檚 Allowance听Supplement听will be as听in the agreed document 鈥�DWP and SG Joint Communications Framework鈥櫶齛s听referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.听听听

15.听Data processing听听

15.1 Further details of the data controller,听and roles and responsibilities of Scottish Ministers听and DWP in relation to the sharing of personal data,听are set out in the associated听Data听Sharing听Agreement.听听

16.听Freedom of Information requests, Parliamentary questions, ministerial correspondence and 鈥楾reat Official鈥� correspondence

16.1 Each听Party is to follow existing processes and obligations for听requests to听that听Party and having regard to the听鈥�MoU on Devolution鈥櫶齛s well as the听鈥楥oncordat between the Department for听Work and听Pensions听and听the听Scottish听Government鈥櫶�听as听referenced in Section 4 (Derivation) of this Agreement.听听

16.2 Each听Party听will听assist听and cooperate with each other where听appropriate to听enable each to meet its obligations.听

16.3 This agreement does not supersede any legal obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FoIA) and the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FoI(S)A).听

SG FOI(S)A	DWP听FOI
FoI@socialsecurity.gov.scot	Freedom-of-information-request@dwp.gov.uk

17.听Data subject requests

17.1听 When听either Party receives a right of access request from a data subject requesting copies of data shared by the other Party, they will for any relevant information they hold as an independent data controller and in line with Article 15 of the UK GDPR and ICO鈥檚 UK GDPR guidance on the right of access:听

• confirm that they are processing any such personal data听

• provide a copy of the personal data held; and provide other supplementary information as听appropriate听

17.2 In addition, if听it appears the data subject听is requesting information held by听the other Party, they will also听at听the same time return the request to the听 sender with details of the correct address (of the other Party) as soon as reasonably听practicable听and within regulatory deadlines.鈥疶he request itself听must not be听forwarded.听

17.3 Details on how to make an access request to DWP can be found in the DWP Information Charter - The DWP Personal Information Charter can be found at this link -鈥�DWP Personal Information Charter

17.4 Details on how to make an access request to Scottish Ministers can be found in the Social Security Scotland Privacy Notice.鈥疶he Social Security Scotland Privacy Notice can be found at this link -听听听听听

17.5 Details听of the specific data being shared can be found in the associated Data Sharing Agreement.听

Address details below:听听听

Email: dataprotectionofficer@socialsecurity.gov.scot

Email: [Redacted]

18.听Business continuity 听

18.1 If听DWP or听Social Security Scotland听business continuity plans are invoked which affect the Services, the听Party invoking their business continuity plan will advise the听other听Party of the issue, impact and resulting action as soon as reasonably听 practicable.听Individual听continuity plans are in place in DWP and听Social Security Scotland and communication points of contact are in place in respective business听continuity teams.听听

18.2 The DWP Data and Analytics (D&A) tactical solution will remain in place until the delivery of the DWP听Carer鈥檚 Allowance Computer System, remediated听(CACS-r)听Service. Once this service is live DWP D&A will听be responsible for听supplying retrospective data feeds as documented in the听most recent version of the听Schedule of Data Feeds to Scottish Government.听听听听听

19.听Technical capabilities听听

19.1 DWP have developed the technical capabilities to extract the relevant data, create the agreed file听format听and securely听transmit听it to Social Security Scotland,听as set out in the associated Data Sharing Agreement. 听

19.2 Each听Party will, as soon as reasonably practicable, inform the other party of any proposed changes to its IT environment that would听impact听on the delivery of Carer鈥檚 Allowance听Supplement. Each party will thereafter co-operate with the other to minimise the impact that such changes may have on Carer鈥檚听Allowance听Supplement.听听

20.听Signatories听

Signed by:听[Redacted]听

Print name:听听ALLY MACPHAIL听听

Date:听02 March 2026听

A duly authorised officer for and on behalf of the Scottish Ministers听

Signed by:听[Redacted]听

Print name:听听MARTIN BROWN听听

Date:听 04 March 2026听

A duly authorised officer for and on behalf of the听Secretary of State for the听Department for听Work and Pensions

Annex听1听-听Customer听Payment听Journey 鈥� High-Level Process Map听[Redacted]听

Annex听2听-听GUID听听[Redacted]听

Annex 3听鈥撎�CAS Payments听for TP65 Clients听[Redacted]

Glossary of terms听

The听Glossary听defines various words, abbreviations and phrases which have specific meanings in the context of this Agreement. Unless otherwise provided or the context otherwise requires, the following expressions have the meanings set out below.听

Term	Definition
BAU	Business as Usual
CA	Carer鈥檚 Allowance
[Redacted]	[Redacted]
CAU	Carer鈥檚 Allowance Unit
[Redacted]	[Redacted]
CoC	Change of circumstances
DPA	Data Protection Act听2018
DS	Data Services
DSA	Data Sharing Agreement
DWP	Department for Work and Pensions
SM/SSWP听Single MOU	The Memorandum of Understanding between Scottish听Ministers听and听Secretary of State听for Work and Pensions dated听January 2023听as amended
D&A	DWP Data and Analytics
GDPR	General Data Protection Regulations
Hand 鈥� Off	The mechanism for exchange or confirmation of information
LTT	Lines to Take
Resident in Scotland	Ordinarily resident in Scotland or either in the EEA or Switzerland with a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland.
Service Delivery Standards	The service delivery standards to be met by DWP for the delivery of the Services as set out at听Para听9
Services	Has the meaning set out in听Para听2
SG	Scottish Government
SLA	Service Level Agreement
SM	Scottish Ministers
SPoC	Single Point of Contact
SSWP	Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Term	Has the meaning set out in听Para听3