Welfare

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

North Ayrshire Council is working with staff in secondary schools to ensure parents are accessing welfare benefits they are entitled to. Over the past two years, Welfare Rights Officer Audrey Ritchie has been offering parents and carers free, impartial, and confidential benefits advice and she has h

Families on low incomes in Midlothian can now apply for free school meals and clothing grants for the upcoming school year 2024/25. All children in primary 1 to 5 are eligible for free school meals, however their families must apply for clothing grants. All children in early learning and childcare c

A fund to trial new ways of combating child poverty has opened for a second round of applications. The Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund (CPAF) will provide up to £80,000 per grant towards local projects that test and evaluate new approaches which target at least one of the three drivers

The families of more than 329,000 children under 16 are benefitting from Scottish Child Payment, the latest statistics show. The weekly payment of £26.70, which is unique to Scotland, is helping families with the cost of living crisis, with over £677 million paid since the payment launch

The Scottish ministers have appointed 128 members to the Social Security Chamber of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. Ministers made their recommendations for appointment on the basis of a report by the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland.

Thousands more unpaid carers in Scotland will be eligible for a new benefit, if regulations laid this week in the Scottish Parliament are approved. Carer Support Payment is the replacement for Carer's Allowance in Scotland. It was first launched in November 2023 in three pilot areas, Perth & Kin

Parents of disabled children are being urged to make sure they’re not missing out on vital financial support from the Scottish Government. Child Disability Payment is money to help families cover the extra costs of looking after a child or young person who is disabled, has a long-term health c

People in Scotland have received more than £30 million via two Scottish Government benefits to help them deal with increased energy costs this winter, new statistics have shown.

Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first in the country eligible for a new disability benefit, subject to parliamentary approval of regulations. From 21 October, Pension Age Disability Payment – the replacement for Attendance Allowance - will be piloted in Argyll & B

All disabled children and young people in Scotland who receive disability benefits will now be paid directly from Social Security Scotland. Those children and young people who receive Child Disability Payment will also benefit from a review system different to that of the wider UK, one based on dign

More than £90 million will be allocated to local authorities in 2024-25 to support eligible households at risk of hardship after the Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) scheme came under full Scottish Government control from 1 April 2024.

Scottish Government spending on social security could deliver a £300 million boost to Scotland’s economy over the short term, according to new analysis. Figures published by chief economist Gary Gillespie also show that long-term investment in labour market and social security policies c