A warm welcome to our site. The site has been developed to provide information on the SSAC's remit, duties and business procedures, access to records of our proceedings and our various publications, including details of the public consultations we run from time to time on proposals for social security regulations. The site is aimed primarily at our stakeholders, such as voluntary organisations, special interest groups, academics and researchers. However, we also welcome input from members of the public.

First established in 1980, the SSAC is an independent statutory body that provides expert, independent advice to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Department of Social Development in Northern Ireland, on social security and related matters. Sponsored by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the Committee meets once a month to consider and discuss policy matters and proposed changes to social security regulations. We also make visits to the DWP's and HMRC operational sites, such as Jobcentre Plus offices, and regularly meet DWP and HMRC officials and a range of stakeholders in order to inform our understanding of policy and regulations.

I hope that this site will provide you with a comprehensive overview of our work. Should you require further information or have any comments on the web site please contact us. Finally, please note the Committee has no executive functions and is unable to answer individual benefit enquires or investigate complaints. If you have a benefit enquiry or complaint, please refer to Department for Work and Pensions website.

http://www.ssac.org.uk/