Social Security Scotland

Thousands of families of disabled children in Scotland have received an additional £200 to help heat their homes this winter. More than 13,000 families of a disabled child, on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children, have had a Child Winter Heating Assistanc

The Scottish Government has provided people who need it with over £540 million in payments since launch in September 2018 up to 31 March 2020, according to a financial report from Social Security Scotland. From 1 September 2018 to 31 March 2020, benefits were delivered that support low in

Almost 6,000 people received a Funeral Support Payment from the Scottish Government in its first full year, according to new statistics. Since it started making payments last September, Social Security Scotland has paid out £8.7 million to people who have lost a loved one.

Child Disability Payment will be the next new benefit to be introduced by the Scottish Government. In an update to the Scottish Parliament yesterday, cabinet secretary for social security Shirley-Anne Somerville said Social Security Scotland will start taking applications from summer 2021 as part of

The new Scottish Child Payment is to open early for applications from Monday November 9. Social Security Scotland will be taking applications ahead of its introduction on Monday 15 February 2021 to help manage the expected demand.

Families of disabled children will receive a new heating benefit from the Scottish Government by Christmas. The Child Winter Heating Assistance is a new £200 payment to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes.

Young carers are being encouraged to check if they are entitled to further awards as the Young Carer Grant marks it’s second anniversary. The Young Carer Grant is a £305.10 payment available on an annual basis for 16, 17 and 18-year-olds who spend an average of 16 hours a week caring for

Social Security Scotland has taken a 20-year lease to become the first tenants at Dundee’s Waterfront regeneration project. Cabinet secretary for social security, Shirley Anne Somerville, said the site will be one of three locations that Social Security Scotland will operate from as it continu

The latest figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission estimate that 194,000 children aged under six in Scotland will be eligible for the new Scottish Child Payment. This is an increase of 14% in eligible children since the Scottish Government’s forecast in June 2019, accounting for the increa

The Scottish Government is to actively inform families that they may be eligible for Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant. Information obtained from DWP and HMRC will allow Social Security Scotland to identify people who are on certain benefits or tax credits and have children of the right age.

Devolved benefits due to be rolled-out later this year have been delayed due to the impact of coronavirus on Scotland’s social security services.

The Scottish Government’s move towards a social security system that “works for all who use it” is to be monitored with the introduction of new measurements. The measures will look at how Social Security Scotland operates and delivers benefits, including how the agency treats clien

People with disabilities will have more choice in how they apply for benefits when the Scottish Government takes responsibility for Disability Assistance next year. 

Volunteers are being asked to shape Scotland’s new, fairer social security system. Applications are open to people from any background with experience of the current benefits system to join the Scottish Government’s Social Security Experience Panels.

The Scottish Government has brought forward a new benefit aimed to tackle child poverty by giving extra cash to low-income families.