Data Benefits: A study on Social Security Data Sharing in Scotland

Abstract

This report provides insights into the current state of data sharing for the administration and evaluation of benefit schemes in Scotland and public attitudes of communities towards the sharing of their data. The findings of the report are based on interviews with eight stakeholders from Scottish Government's Minimum Income Guarantee Expert Group, academia, and third sector. We also ran seven focus groups at community centers in Edinburgh. In total, we spoke to 41 individuals who were in receipt of benefits. The report covers: current forms of data sharing of social security data; aspirations for future data sharing; challenges faced by stakeholders; attitudes of those in receipt of benefits to four co-produced data sharing scenarios and to the concept of a minimum income guarantee. The report also covers a summary from two community discussion events run as part of the 2024 ESRC Festival of Social Science.