Welfare

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

The number of applications for Discretionary Housing Payments has risen to 129,860 from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025, a 4.5% increase from the previous year, according to new figures from the Scottish Government.

Households in the Inverness Area have benefited significantly from Welfare Advice received by Highland Council officers when applying for the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme. Leader of Inverness and Area, Councillor Ian Brown, explained: “Councillors have agreed to continue the Inverness Commo

Hillcrest has helped tenants unlock a remarkable £502,740 in financial gains through a targeted campaign to increase the take-up of Pension Credit, support many tenants were unaware they were entitled to. The campaign was delivered by Hillcrest’s Financial Wellbeing Team (FWT) and Hillcr

Last winter over half a million children and families across Scotland enjoyed warmer homes after receiving a total of £37.3 million towards their heating bills from Social Security Scotland. Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who get certain low-income benefits, including h

East Renfrewshire Council's money advice and rights team (MART) offer free, expert and confidential money advice to residents and, across 2024/25, helped clients maximise their income through benefit assessments and claims, appealing benefit decisions and debt management. 

Manor Estates Housing Association and Muirhouse Housing Association have appointed CHAI to provide their welfare rights service.   The service is being provided by Elvira Vila, a highly experienced welfare rights advisor with many years’ experience providing welfare benefits and welfare r

Pension Age Disability Payment is now open for applications across Scotland. Yesterday, the benefit was extended to 14 more areas - Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borde

Over £3 million has been put into the pockets of Dundee pensioners, thanks to city-wide efforts encouraging people to apply for Pension Credit.

More unpaid carers in Scotland could benefit from financial support as a key change in eligibility rules comes into effect from 6 April 2025. The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will increase from £151 to £196 a week. This means that a carer can earn £45 more a week, after

The process of transferring over 66,000 adults in Scotland from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to the new Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance has begun. Payments will now be managed by Social Security Scotland instead of the Department for Work and Pensions.