This paper examines what Scottish independence would mean for social security – including state, private and public sector pensions – and supporting people into work. It sets out the current UK-wide arrangements and how they provide targeted and effective support to pensioners, jobseekers, employers and those needing support from the social security system. It highlights:

• the ability of the UK to combine risks and draw on the wider economy to fund social security spending – something that a smaller independent Scottish state would find more difficult
• the extensive infrastructure and systems that currently provide pensions, support into work and benefits to people in Scotland