Welfare

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.

More than 210,000 children in Scotland will be trapped in poverty by 2030 without urgent investment from the Scottish Government, new analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland (IPPR Scotland) has warned.

A new benefit for pensioners is now open for applications in 13 more local authority areas in Scotland.   Pension Age Disability Payment has been extended to Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, Falkirk, Fife, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Perth and Kinross and Stir

Cairn Housing Association’s chief executive Audrey Simpson has spoken out against the UK government’s planned £5 billion welfare cuts, warning they will have devastating consequences for disabled people and those already struggling to make ends meet. The government’s proposal

Concerns have been raised about how people in Scotland could be impacted by plans announced by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall to cut £5 billion of UK government spending on welfare by the end of the decade. The measures, which the government argues are needed to “fi