New social security Scottish HQ takes on 93 extra staff

The Scottish Government has recruited 93 people in Dundee to work at the country’s new social security headquarters.

Competition was fierce with 1,367 applications made within a few weeks of the client service advisers’ roles being advertised, according to official figures.

The city’s jobs boost is the first wave of appointments for the agency, which is initially operating from the council’s base on North Lindsay Street.

The advisers will be processing applications and responding to queries.

The starting salary was publicised as £17,641.

The agency is expected to be fully operational by 2021 with 1,900 jobs spread across the country, 750 of which will be in Dundee.

Eighty posts were expected to be filled in this recruitment round, but the number of people appointed is higher because of working practices such as job shares.

The Scottish Parliament is taking control of 11 benefits from Westminster, including disability living allowance, personal independence payments, carer’s allowances and winter fuel payments.

MSPs will also be able to create new benefits.

Minsters have admitted the timescale for establishing a Scottish welfare system is tight.

The transfer of powers is likely to heap further pressure on the fragile relationship between the Scottish and UK governments.

Mark Griffin, for Scottish Labour, warned ministers not to let down Scots who rely on welfare.

“The SNP government must urgently act to ensure that the Social Security Agency will function properly, and also ensure Dundee workers see the jobs that were promised from basing the agency there,” he said.