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 and launched in winter 2020, with the first 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 provides support 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.[14]

Scottish Child Payment was a new payment announced by the Scottish Government in 2019 as a means to help reduce the prevalence of childhood poverty in Scotland.[15] It was first introduced for eligible families with children under six, with applications open from November 2020 and first payments made in February 2021.[16] Initially the payment was £10 per week, per child, however this was doubled to £20 in April 2021.[17]

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.[18]

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods provides support to families to help with costs during key early years of a child's life. Best Start Grant is made up of three payments: Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment, and School Age Payment. While Pregnancy and Baby Payment replaced Sure Start Maternity Grant, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment are new benefits introduced by the Scottish Government.[19]

Funeral Support Payment replaced the Funeral Payment in September 2019 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]

Carer's Allowance Supplement is 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 launched in September 2018 and will run until Scottish Government plans for a new Carer's Allowance are in place. From April 2023, Carer's Allowance Supplement increased to £270.50 for each payment.[21]

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.[22]

Young Carer Grant is a new benefit which provides support to 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. Young Carer Grant launched in October 2019 and currently is a yearly payment of £359.65.[23]

Job Start Payment is a new benefit to help young people aged 16 to 24 years old (or up to 25 years old if a care leaver) with the costs of the transition into employment, after a period of time out of paid work. The benefit launched in August 2020 after a short delay due to COVID-19.[24] The current payment is £294.70, or £471.50 if the person has a child.[25]

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.[26]