Social Security Scotland

Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have and can be paid up until a child turns 18 years old. The payment has a care component and a mobility component, each with three different payment rates.[8]

Child Disability Payment was launched as a pilot in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross, and the Western Isles in July 2021 and rolled out to the rest of Scotland in November 2021. Child Disability Payment replaced Disability Living Allowance for Children.[9][10]

Adult Disability Payment provides support for people between 16 years old and state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition, or a terminal illness. The payment has a daily living component and a mobility component, with standard and enhanced payment rates.

Adult Disability Payment rolled out in phases across Council areas from March 2022 and launched nationally in August 2022. Adult Disability Payment replaced Personal Independence Payment. People with ongoing awards of Personal Independence Payment do not need to make an application for Adult Disability Payment, as their awards will automatically transfer to Social Security Scotland from summer 2022.[11]

Child Winter Heating Assistance is a new payment to help with winter costs for families with children in receipt Child Disability Payment or the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for children.[12]

Child Winter Heating Assistance was the first disability benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland. The payment launched in winter 2020, with families being paid in December 2020. The payment currently is £235.70 per eligible child, and is paid automatically to eligible families without needing to apply.[13]

Scottish Child Payment is a new payment announced by the Scottish Government in mid-2019 as a means to help reduce the prevalence of childhood poverty in Scotland.[14]

The payment was first introduced for eligible families with children under six, with applications open from November 2020 and first payments being made in February 2021.[15] Initially the payment was £10 per week, per child, however this was doubled to £20 in April 2021.[16]

On 14 November 2022, Scottish Child Payment rolled out to families with children under 16 years old and the payment increased for a third time to £25 per week, per child.[17] The payment is for families on low incomes with children under 16 years old and in receipt of certain means-tested benefits, such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, and certain legacy benefits.[18]

Best Start Grant is made up of three payments: Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment, and School Age Payment. Pregnancy and Baby Payment replaced Sure Start Maternity Grant. Best Start Foods is also under the Best Start Grant umbrella. The benefits are aimed at providing parents or carers who receive certain benefits or tax credits with extra financial support during key stages of a child's life.[19]

Funeral Support Payment replaced the Funeral Payment and aims to reduce funeral poverty in Scotland by providing people who receive certain benefits or tax credits with a payment that can be used to help pay funeral costs, burial or cremation costs, travel costs, and medical costs.[20]

An extra payment to carers in Scotland who are receiving a full or partial Carer's Allowance payment from the Department for Work and Pensions. Social Security Scotland pays this automatically every six months, in June and December, without the need for applications. This payment will run until Scottish Government plans for a new Carer's Allowance are in place. Each six monthly payment will be uprated annually with inflation.[21] From April 2023, Carer's Allowance Supplement will increase to £270.50 for each payment.[22]

In June 2020, an extra Carer's Allowance Supplement payment of £230.10 was paid alongside the standard payment. This was a one-off payment to provide support to carers during the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

Young Carer Grant is a new grant for young carers, aged 16 to 18 years old, who care for someone for at least 16 hours a week but do not qualify for Carer's Allowance. The grant provides a payment of more than £300 every year to young carers up until the age of 19.[24] Young Carer Grant increases in line with inflation and currently is a yearly payment of £359.65.[25]

Job Start Payment is a new benefit to help young people with the costs of the transition into employment, after a period of time out of paid work. The benefit is a payment of £294.70, or £471.50 if the person has a child, and is available for young people aged 16 to 24 (up to 25 years old if a care leaver).[26] Initially scheduled to launch in March 2020, the payment was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[27] Job Start Payment was launched in August 2020.[28]

Winter Heating Payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment in 2023 to help with winter costs for people who receive who income benefits who might have extra heating needs. To be eligible, people need to be in receipt of a qualifying benefit and meet an additional criteria during a qualifying week in November 2022. The benefit is automatically paid and currently is a payment of £50.[29]