THOUSANDS of new jobs are to be created in Dundee and Glasgow as part of the Social Security Scotland expansion, the First Minister has announced.
Nicola Sturgeon confirmed this morning that recruitment will kick off in October as her government looks to support the delivery of new welfare payments being brought in next year.
In 2022, the Holyrood government is set to launch the Adult Disability Payment, a replacement for Westminster’s Personal Independence Payment, while the Child Payment is also expected to be doubled.
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Most of the 2000 new jobs will be located in Social Security Scotland’s Dundee head office and in Glasgow, with staff focused on processing applications and taking calls from claimants, Sturgeon explained.
Other roles will be spread across Scotland, providing face-to-face advice for those who need it.
The announcement comes a day after all Holyrood parties besides the Scottish Tories voted to urge the UK Government to scrap its planned £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit – a move which could put 800,000 people into poverty, according to the Legatum Institute think tank.
Speaking today, the First Minister said: “Social security is a human right and a collective investment in the people of this country now and for future generations.
“These roles come at a critical time in Scotland’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and our investment will go beyond the money that we will pay in benefits.
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“When we have introduced all our new benefits and moved clients from the DWP to Social Security Scotland, our new social security service will employ more than 3500 people. This will provide secure, long-term employment in Dundee, Glasgow and across the country and deliver a positive economic impact of £280 million for our economy.”
She added that Social Security Scotland’s focus will be on treating people with “dignity, fairness and respect”.
Meanwhile David Wallace, the organisation’s chief executive, said he was “delighted” to be able to create new jobs.
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