Welfare

A record £99 million will be invested in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) this financial year to help thousands of households struggling to afford housing costs in Scotland. During Challenge Poverty Week, housing secretary Màiri McAllan highlighted the payments as a "lifeline" for

Projects aimed at tackling child poverty across the country will receive increased, multi-year funding thanks to a boost from the Scottish Government.   Successful applicants to the third round of the Child Poverty Practice Accelerator Fund, now worth more than £1.8 million, will receive

Families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people are set to receive winter heating support, as Scotland’s unique benefit marks its fifth anniversary.   Child Winter Heating Payments will be issued from next week to families caring for children with the highest disability suppo

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.  

Whiteinch & Scotstoun Housing Association has looked back on another fantastic year, with one of the standout achievements being the success of its Welfare Rights Service. With just two dedicated team members, Lauren Cadwallender and Lisa McNaughtan, the service generated an overall financial ga

The remaining 350,000 disabled people who were getting Personal Independence Payment have had their benefit awards successfully transferred to Social Security Scotland. This month marks the third anniversary of Adult Disability Payment being available across Scotland, and the complete transfer

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.