This briefing summarises the benefits available from Social Security Scotland as at April 2024.
This briefing gives a short summary of the benefit rates for Social Security Scotland benefits from April 2024. A glossary and useful links are provided at the end. Please note: this is only a very brief overview. For further detail and to make applications see: https://www.mygov.scot/browse/benefits
| Benefit | Client group | Amount | Eligibility |
| Best Start Foods | Child under 1 | ?10.60 per week | On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, WTC, IS, PC, ibJSA, irESA, HB).OR under 18OR 18/19 yrs and dependent (parent/carer gets CB, CTC, child element UC, child addition PC, or is approved kinship carer) |
| Best Start Foods | Pregnant OR child aged 1 or 2 | ?5.30 per week | As above |
| Best Start Grant: pregnancy and baby | Pregnancy to six months | ?377.35 (?754.65 for first born) one-off grant | As above |
| Best Start Grant: Early learning | Age 2 to 3 ? | ?314.45 one-off grant | As above |
| Best Start Grant: School age | Born 1/3/19 to 19/2/20. Must apply between 1/6/24 and 28/2/25. | ?314.45 one-off grant | As above |
| Scottish Child Payment | Children under 16 | ?26.70 per week | On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, ibJSA, irESA, IS, PC, WTC). |
| Funeral Support Payment | Responsible for funeral costs. Normally nearest relative. | Higher rate; ?1,257.75.Lower rate: ?153.50. Some additional costs can be claimed. | On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, IS, PC, HB, ibJSA, irESA, WTC+ disability/severe disability element) |
| Benefit | Client group | Amount | Eligibility |
| Carer?s Allowance Supplement | Unpaid carers getting Carer?s Allowance | ?288.60, in June and December. | Gets Carer?s Allowance on qualifying date(8 April 2024 for June payment, 7 October 2024 for December payment). Paid automatically |
| Young Carer?s Grant | Young carers 16, 17 or 18, not getting Carer?s Allowance | ?383.75 annually | Caring 16 hours a week for 3 months for someone getting certain disability benefits |
| Carer Support Payment | Unpaid carers (n.b. certain local authorities only until October 2024. Carer?s Allowance from DWP available to those not in the pilot areas). | ?81.90 per week | Caring 35 hours a week, for someone getting certain disability benefits. Earning ?151 or less per week |
| Benefit | Client group | Amount | Eligibility |
| Job Start Payment | Age 16 to 24, out of work for six months.Carer leaver aged 16 to 25, out of work. | ?314.45 (?503.10 if main carer of a child) | On qualifying benefit (ibJSA, IS, ir-ESA, UC)ANDa job offer of at least 12 hrs per week |
| Benefit | Client group | Amount | Eligibility |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | Disabled children and young people | ?251.50 annually from November | On qualifying benefit in the qualifying week(higher rate care CDP, enhanced daily living PIP/ADP in week of 3rd Monday in September)Paid automatically |
| Winter Heating Payment | Low income: pensioner, child under 5 or disabled person | ?58.75 annually from mid December | On qualifying benefit in the qualifying week(PC, certain elements of UC, ibJSA, irESA, IS, SMIin week of 1st Monday in November)Paid automatically |
n.b. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is due to start in 2024. This will replace Winter Fuel Payment.
| Benefit | Client group | Amount | Eligibility |
| Child Disability Payment | Disabled children and young people | Care: ?28.70 or ?72.65 or ?108.55 per week.Mobility: ?28.70 or ?75.75 per week | Rates paid depend on needs assessed against set criteria |
| Adult Disability Payment | Working age disabled people | Daily Living: ?72.65 or ?108.55 per weekMobility: ?28.70 or ?75.75 per week | As above. (ADP also has a ?transitional? care rate of ?28.70 for those transferring from lower rate care DLA) |
| Short Term Assistance | Disabled people | Tops up CDP/ADP to the amount paid before it was reduced. | Was getting CDP or ADP and are now challenging a decision to stop or reduce that benefit. Apply when asking for redetermination |
n.b. Pension Age Disability Assistance to start in 2024, replacing Attendance Allowance.
ADP - Adult Disability Payment
CA ? Carer?s Allowance
CDP - Child Disability Payment
CTC ? Child Tax Credit
DLA ? Disability Living Allowance
ir-ESA ? income related Employment and Support Allowance
HB ? Housing Benefit
IS ? Income Support
ib-JSA ? income based Job Seeker?s Allowance
PC ? Pension Credit
PIP - Personal Independence Payment
SMI - Support for Mortgage Interest
UC ? Universal Credit
WTC ? Working Tax Credit
Useful Links
Benefits and grants - mygov.scot
Social Security Scotland 0800 182 2222
Social Security Scotland - Guidance & Resources
Independent advocacy: Voiceability freephone 0300 303 1660