Welfare

North Lanarkshire Council has established a Universal Credit Assistance Fund to help tenants who find themselves falling into rent arrears due to built-in waiting times for Universal Credit payments to be processed and paid. (from left) Councillor Heather Brannan-McVey, convener of housing and regen

Age Scotland has helped to identify £719,000 in unclaimed benefits for older people.

Benefit claimants are getting less money in real terms than they were when Universal Credit was introduced in 2013, according to calculations made by Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) is urging the new Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to use his first budget next month to make key changes to Universal Credit, in order to offer more support for people who are in work.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, cabinet secretary for social security and older people, discusses how the Scottish Government is creating the new infrastructure for a new public service for Scotland. Our new social security system is an important investment in the people of Scotland now and for generat

Over £20 million in payments have been issued in the first year of the Scottish Government's new Best Start Grant, according to new figures.

Following a vote in Parliament yesterday, MPs have agreed to end the benefits freeze and raise benefits in line with inflation.

Scottish Greens have called for the UK Government to end a controversial cap on benefits, as figures showed over 3,364 Scottish families are having their social security entitlements cut.

The full roll-out of Universal Credit is set for another delay, adding £500 million to its overall cost, according to reports.

The House of Lords' economic affairs committee has launched an inquiry into the economics of Universal Credit.

Young carers going through the immigration process will be able to apply for the Scottish Government’s Young Carer Grant without fear of it risking their immigration status. The change follows lengthy discussions between the Scottish and UK governments to amend Home Office regulations.

Housing minister Kevin Stewart has called on the UK Government to deliver a multi-year plan for investment to prevent future welfare cuts putting more people at risk of homelessness. Last month the UK Government revealed it will increase Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates in line with the Cons

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement of more support for people facing funeral poverty.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed the UK Government’s appeals against two previous court judgments which found that the secretary of state for work and pensions had unlawfully discriminated against thousands of severely disabled people who moved onto Universal Credit.

The amount given in crisis grants increased by more than a third in one quarter as low-income families were provided with more than £3 million to cover emergencies.