Welfare

More than 200,000 disabled adults have now had their benefit award transferred to Social Security Scotland from the Department for Work and Pensions, new figures show. Almost two thirds (63%) of adults in Scotland who were previously getting Personal Independence Payment are now receiving Adult

Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has written to secretary of state for work and pensions Liz Kendall to urge the UK Government to reverse the cut to Winter Fuel Payment. Ms Somerville called on the UK Government to take action to address the root causes of fuel poverty and volatile e

The UK Government has been urged to assess the "inadequacy and volatility" of the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) in the wake of new private rent inflation figures.

In excess of 26,000 customers were assisted by the Highland Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2023/24 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues. As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £26.8 million, representing a £17.32 return for every &

Innovative approaches to providing families with locally-based wrap-around support will be backed in five more areas as part of £1.57 million of additional investment this financial year. The Fairer Futures Partnerships will ensure services are integrated to help families where and when they n

West Dunbartonshire Council’s Working4U Money team has helped almost 4,000 local residents gain £8.2 million through benefit claims and debt write-offs as a result of its support services.

The Scottish Government has come out in defence of the Scottish Child Payment following criticism of the benefit in a Reform Scotland report. In a paper published by the think-tank earlier this week, former social justice minister Des McNulty said the payment needs to b

Two benefits that provide extra money to families with the cost of healthy food and starting school, are turning five years old. Best Start Grant School Age Payment supports families with a one-off payment of £314.45 to help cover the cost of starting primary school, and has provided £33

Scottish benefits claimants are being reminded to take action as a key date approaches for the switch to Universal Credit. Advice Direct Scotland, which runs the national advice service advice.scot, said that households should prepare for changes as the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) continu

The Scottish Child Payment needs to be rethought with higher priority given to prevention, place-focused interventions and addressing the circumstances and needs of the most vulnerable and poorest families, according to Scotland's former social justice minister.

Thousands more unpaid carers in Scotland can now apply for a new benefit. Carer Support Payment, the replacement for Carer's Allowance, is now available in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Fife, Moray and North, East and South Ayrshire.

East Renfrewshire Council's Money Advice and Rights team has helped more than 5,000 local residents gain £8 million through its support services. The Money Advice and Rights (MART) offer free, expert and confidential money advice to East Renfrewshire residents and throughout 2023/24 helped the

Age Scotland is continuing to urge the UK government to reconsider plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for pensioners who do not receive pension credit.

Parents and carers are being encouraged to check their eligibility for financial support as the summer holidays end and they prepare for their children going back to school. Extra costs, including new shoes, stationery and lunch boxes, can soon add up.

Age Scotland is urging the UK government to reconsider plans to scrap the winter fuel payment for pensioners who do not receive pension credit. Scotland’s charity for older people has said the move will push tens of thousands of low income pensioners in Scotland further into poverty, and puts