Welfare

More than 837,000 payments have been made to people across Scotland to help with heating costs this winter, thanks to a unique package of support. More than 268,500 payments for Child Winter Heating Payment and Winter Heating Payment – support only available in Scotland – have been paid

More than 22,000 applications from Scots for a new benefit worth up to £441 a month have been processed in the year since it opened, new figures show. The Pension Age Disability Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland, replaces Attendance Allowance, and is not based on income.

Housing bodies have welcomed the UK Government's abolition of the two-child benefit cap but shared their disappointment that the freeze on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) was not scrapped for good.

Social Security Scotland’s Scottish Child Payment is supporting 322,230 children across the country, newly published figures show.  Launched in February 2021, the Scotland-only benefit gives families with low incomes crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children.

The UK and Scottish governments must take urgent action to tackle unprecedented levels of hardship facing Scotland’s social tenants, according to a new report from the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

Ahead of a series of meetings in London today with child poverty charities, social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to take action to tackle child poverty in its forthcoming Budget, including immediately scrapping the two-child limit and the benefit cap. Ms Somer

Scottish Borders Council’s Financial Inclusion Team has successfully achieved accreditation under the Scottish National Standards for Information and Advice Providers (SNSIAP). The recognition reflects the council’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible welfare benefits advic

A record £99 million will be invested in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) this financial year to help thousands of households struggling to afford housing costs in Scotland. During Challenge Poverty Week, housing secretary Màiri McAllan highlighted the payments as a "lifeline" for

Projects aimed at tackling child poverty across the country will receive increased, multi-year funding thanks to a boost from the Scottish Government.   Successful applicants to the third round of the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund, now worth more than £1.8 million, will receive

Families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people are set to receive winter heating support, as Scotland’s unique benefit marks its fifth anniversary.   Child Winter Heating Payments will be issued from next week to families caring for children with the highest disability suppo

The Scottish Government has been urged to set out how it will manage a funding gap created by its higher spending on devolved benefits. In a new report published yesterday, Audit Scotland highlighted that the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is the largest of the devolved benefits and the replacement

More than 11,000 applications from Scots for a new benefit worth up to £441 a month have been processed since it opened, new figures reveal. The Pension Age Disability Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland, is a replacement for Attendance Allowance. It provides money to suppor

At least 880,000 pensioners across Scotland are set to receive the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment to help with heating their homes this winter.  

Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has confirmed that the Scottish Government will introduce a new payment to effectively nullify the UK Government’s two-child benefit limit in Scotland. The Two Child Limit Payment will open for applications from 2 March 2026.

New figures released this week have revealed that 326,255 children are actively benefiting from the Scottish Child Payment across the country. The Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and provides financial support for families, helping with the costs of caring for a child. It is a monthly p