In a landmark new report led by leading charities to set out a new transformative vision for Scotland.
A minimum income guarantee will provide a dignified quality of life, deliver financial security, unlock opportunities for everyone in Scotland according to the new independent report commissioned for the Scottish Government.
An expert group set up by ministers to explore the proposal has produced a roadmap to a “fundamental change to the social contract” in Scotland, starting with a pilot which follows next year’s election.
A minimum income guarantee establishes an income level below which nobody is allowed to fail, through reform to social security, work and services. Recommending a three-stage approach to achieving this the report outlines a series of devolved measures which can be taken by the next Scottish Government between 2026 and 2031 to strengthen the existing safety net.
This includes a pilot project to test and learn from, as well as doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £55 per week by 2031 and an effective end to sanctions, limits and freezes in the welfare system, moving instead to a system based on a guarantee of support.
The proposals will deliver sustainable economic growth, according to the report authors and bring about transformative reductions in poverty and inequality. This would reduce demand on public services and the cost of dealing with the social and health problems caused by poverty and inequality.
The expert group was established in 2021 with representatives from 16 leading charities and anti-poverty organisations and a separate strategy group chaired by Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville and MSPs from all five main parties in Holyrood.
You can read the full report here.
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