Social Security Scotland recently published its Annual Report and Accounts, which showed it made £1.9 billion in payments to people in Scotland from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024. The payments were made across 14 Scottish benefits, seven of which are not available anywhere else in the UK.
This includes £942 million for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) which now supports more than 374,655 disabled people in Scotland. Social Security Scotland also paid £463m to help families on low incomes with their living costs through five family payments, which includes Scottish Child Payment, which was benefiting more than 329,000 children and young people by the end of March 2024.
Winter Heating Payment will be paid to 457,000 people by February next year to help towards the cost of heating homes and Carer Support Payment which began a phased rollout in the Western Isles, Dundee City and Perth and Kinross last year, is now available across Scotland.
Eligible people who get benefits include carers, disabled people and families, pensioners, young people starting jobs and people who need help paying for a funeral.
In total, the combination of direct payments made by Social Security Scotland and those paid through Agency Agreements with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) saw the Scottish Government invest over £5.2bn in benefits across Scotland.
Commenting on the figures, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We are committed to tackling poverty and supporting people throughout Scotland. At a time when families are struggling with the ongoing cost of living crisis, we have been delivering 14 benefits, seven of which are only available in Scotland.
“Winter Heating Payment is a reliable annual payment to people on low incomes in Scotland, including pensioners receiving Pension Credit. We continue to offer vital support to families through our five family payments, including Scottish Child Payment which was helping to support more than 329,000 children and young people by the end of financial year 2023-24.
“We are focused on ensuring people get the money they are entitled to and that we deliver these payments while treating people with dignity, fairness and respect.”
Benefits and payments only available in Scotland
Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments with direct links to the dedicated pages on the Social Security Scotland website here.
Winter Heating Payment – £58.75 annual payment
The new annual payment replaces the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP last year and will be worth £58.75 during winter 2024/25.
It is designed to help people on a low income or benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter – find out more here.
Child Winter Heating Payment – £251.50 annual payment
This is an annual payment that will rise to £251.50 this year to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits. This includes Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) – find out more here.
Scottish Child Payment – £26.70 weekly payment
This is a payment of £26.70 per week, per child – £106.80 every four weeks – to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
This is a one-off payment of up to £754.65 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
This is a one-off payment of £314.40 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment
This is a one-off payment of £314.40 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food – find out more here.
Funeral Support Payment
This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 – find out more here.
Payment rates 2024/25:
- Higher rate: £1,257.75
- Lower rate: £153.50
- Medical device removal rate: £25.35
Job Start Payment
This is a one-off payment for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job – find out more here.
Payment rates:
- Higher rate: £503.10
- Standard rate: £314.45
Child Disability Payment – up to £737 every four weeks
This is extra money – up to the value of £737 every four weeks – to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here.
Adult Disability Payment – up to £737 every four weeks
This is extra money – worth between £114.80 and £737.20 every four weeks – to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here.
To find out more about any of the benefits or payments, or to apply visit Social Security Scotland online here or contact them on 0800 182 2222.
Young Carer Grant – £383.75 annual payment
This is an annual payment of £383.75 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more – find out more here.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement – £288.60 paid twice a year
This is an automatic payment of £288.60 made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
The first payment of 2024 was made in June and the next is due in December. People who make a new claim by October 7 will also qualify for the December payment – find out more here.
Carer Support Payment – £81.90 weekly payment
Carer Support Payment is gradually replacing Carer’s Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland. Full details about the new benefit can be found here.
Pension Age Disability Payment – up to £434 every four weeks
Pension Age Disability Payment will replace Attendance Allowance as part of a phased pilot launch which started in October for new claimants in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland, before it rolls out nationwide in March 2025.
People living in Scotland will receive either £72.65 or £108.55 each week – the same rate as Attendance Allowance. it will be paid every four weeks – £290.60, or £434.20 per pay period.
Pension Age Disability Payment will support older people who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. Find out more about the new payment here.