Adult Disability Payment

Adult Disability Benefit (ADP) is a new non-means tested disability benefit introduced by Social Security Scotland in 2022. It replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) however it is, to a large extent, based on PIP. ADP has two components (daily living and mobility). To qualify for ADP, claimants must be between 16 years old and pension age and pass at least one of the disability tests. You must also pass the disability tests for 13 weeks before you claim and satisfy the disbility tests for at least 26 weeks after you claim. Scottish claimants alreadt receiving PIP or DLA will be transferred to ADP at some point.

Attendance Allowance

You may be entitled to Attendance Allowance (AA) if you are aged 65 or over with a mental and/or physical illness and you have care and/or supervision needs. Unless you are terminally ill you must have had these needs for at least six months before you claim. It is paid at two rates depending on the level of care you need and is not affected by any income or savings you have.

If you are entitled to either rate you may become entitled to, or increase your entitlement to other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax reduction. If you have a carer they could be entitled to Carer’s Allowance and an increase in their means-tested benefits. However, if you live alone this could affect any means-tested benefits you may get as you could lose entitlement to any severe disability premium or severe disability amount that may be included in your claim.

Attendance Allowance Interactive Claim Form

Bereavement Support Payment

Bereavement Support Payment is a new benefit available to people whose spouse or civil partner dies on or after 6th April 2017. It replaces three existing bereavement benefits: bereavement payment, bereavement allowance and widow’s parent's allowance. These benefits remain in place if your spouse or civil partner died before 6th April 2017. For women widowed before 9th April 2001, widows pension and widowed mothers allowance remain in place.

Bereavement Support Payment Form

Best Start Foods

Best Start Foods is a payment that replaces the UK Government’s Healthy Start Vouchers in Scotland, with a new payment card. The payment is £18.00 every four weeks during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. It increases to £36.00 for any child under one.

Best Start Foods Guide

Best Start Grant

Best Start Grant is a package of three payments that will give extra money to Scottish parents and carers during the early years of a child’s life.

Pregnancy and Baby Payment - this payment is helping low-income families with expenses in pregnancy or having a new child. It pays £642.35 for a first child and £321.20 for other children. There is an extra £321.30 for a multiple birth.

Early Learning Payment - this is a £267.65 payment made when a child is between the ages of two and three years and six months to help with the costs of early learning.

School Age Payment - this is a £267.65 payment made around the time a child normally starts Primary 1 to help with the costs of a child starting school.

Best Start Grant Guide

Budgeting Loan

This is an interest-free loan to help with the cost of certain expenses such as household items, clothing, rent in advance or moving expenses and expenses associated with looking for or starting work. You have to be getting a qualifying benefit when you claim and you or your partner should have been receiving the qualifying benefit throughout the previous 26 weeks. Qualifying benefits are income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance and pension credit.

The amount of loan you get depends on what you are able to repay, your circumstances and the amount of any other loans you may have. The amount of any loan will be reduced pound for pound for any savings you have over £1000 (£2000 for those aged 61 or over). Budgeting loans have been replaced by budgeting advances for those in receipt of Universal Credit.

Budgeting Loan Interactive Claim Form

Carers Allowance

Carer’s Allowance (CA) is paid if you are providing care for 35 hours or more a week for a person who is entitled to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component at the middle or higher rate, Personal Independence Payment daily living component (either rate), Attendance Allowance (AA), or constant attendance allowance in respect of an industrial or war disablement. You do not have to live with the person you care for. Your income and capital are ignored but you must not be in full-time education (21 hours or more). If you are working, you must not be earning over the current earnings limit when you claim. Your partner’s income is ignored. You get national insurance credits for every week you receive CA.

If you get CA you can qualify for a carer premium or an extra amount if you claim universal credit income support; income-based jobseeker's allowance; income-related employment and support allowance; housing benefit and/or council tax benefit or a carer's additional amount if you claim pension credit but the CA does count as income for these benefits. However, before you claim CA check whether this will affect the person who you are caring for – if they get a benefit that includes a severe disability premium or additional amount and they live alone, they could lose this if you claim CA.

Your CA stops four weeks after the disabled persons DLA or AA stops and continues eight weeks after their death.

Carers Allowance Interactive Claim Form

Carers Allowance Supplement

Carers Allowance Supplement is an extra payment to carers in Scotland who are receiving a full or partial Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions. Social Security Scotland will pay this every six months until Scottish Government plans for their replacement of Carer's Allowance are in place. Each six-monthly payment will be updated annually with inflation.

Child Benefit

Child benefit is paid if you are responsible for a child or qualifying young person (this is certain children aged between 16 and 19). You count as responsible for a child if you have a child living with you, or if you contribute to the cost of supporting the child at a rate of at least that of child benefit. Child benefit can continue until the qualifying young person reaches their 20th birthday, provided certain conditions are met, such as the child being on (or enrolled to start on) a course of full-time non-advanced education or approved training before s/he is 19. Child benefit is not affected by any income or capital you have and is not dependent on NI contributions. It is paid regardless of whether or not you are working and there is no upper or lower age limit for claiming.

Child Benefit Claim Form

Child Disability Payment

Child Disability Payment (CDP) is a new benefit introduced by the Scottish Government, to help with the costs of looking after a disabled child. It is a benefit for children and young people in Scotland who have a disbility or long-term health problem and has replaced Disability Living Allowance (Child). Like Disability Living Allowance (Child), CDP has two components; care and mobility. Each component can be paid at different rates and a child can qualify for one or both components.

Child Tax Credit

Child Tax Credit (CTC) is a means-tested benefit paid if you are responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if in full-time non-advanced education or approved training). You are treated as responsible for a child if they normally live with you. If two people (or couples) make competing claims for the same child the HM Revenue and Customs will decide who is mainly responsible. It is paid whether you are in or out of work. Entitlement continues for 20 weeks after the school leaving date if the child is under 18 and registers for work or training with a qualifying body such as Connexions. Tax credits are usually based on your previous year’s income. Certain changes of circumstance must be reported within one month but a change in income does not have to be reported – although this could result in an over or under-payment. If you work 16 hours or more a week you may be entitled to both CTC and Working Tax Credit.

Cold Weather Payment

A Cold Weather Payment is a means-tested benefit which can help with the cost of heating your home during bouts of cold weather. You can only apply for this benefit if you are in receipt of certain other benefits and meet specific qualifying criteria. The scheme is only available between the 1st November and 31st March. Cold Weather Payments are available when there has been a Met Office recorded temperature below 0°C for seven days in a row (or this pattern has been forecasted) in your local area.

Community Care Grant

Community Care Grants (CCG) can be paid if you need help in special circumstances such as helping you to return to the community after being in institutional or residential care (including prison); stay at home rather than go into institutional or residential care; set up home in the community after having an unsettled way of life, for example after living in a night shelter (as part of a planned programme to resettle you); care for a prisoner or young offender when they leave prison on temporary licence; ease exceptional pressures on you and your family or pay for certain travel expenses like going to a family funeral or visiting someone who is ill. There are certain excluded items. It does not have to be repaid. CCG's are administered by Inverclyde Council's Scottish Welfare Fund team and applications should be made by telephone on 01475 714444.

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax Reduction (CTR) is paid if you are on a low income and need help with your council tax. It is means-tested and paid as a reduction on your council tax bill.

If you have a non-dependant, such as a friend or grown-up daughter, living with you this may affect the amount of CTR you are awarded. If you have capital, such as savings, these must total less than £16,000 unless you are over 60 and receive the guarantee credit part of pension credit. The first £6,000 of capital will be ignored but if you have capital between the lower limit of £6,000 and the upper limit of £16,000 your CTR will be reduced (and could be reduced to nil). It is paid whether you are in or out of work. You will get full CTR if you are getting income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or guarantee credit of pension credit.

If you are the only person liable for council tax on your home and you have an adult on a low income living with you, you might be able to get 'second adult rebate' instead of CTR, no matter how much income or capital you have. The local council should do a ‘better off calculation’ and tell you which benefit would pay you more. It is paid whether you are in or out of work.

Crisis Grants

Crisis Grants are paid if you need help in an emergency or crisis and you do not have enough money to meet your immediate needs. In certain circumstances, they can be paid for rent in advance. You have to show that a crisis loan would prevent a serious risk to the health and safety of you and your family. It does have to be repaid and you have to show that you can repay it before any loan will be made. You do not have to be getting a benefit to get a crisis loan. CG's are administered by Inverclyde Council's Scottish Welfare Fund team and applications should be made by telephone on 01475 714444.

Disability Living Allowance

You may be entitled to disability living allowance (DLA) if you have personal care or supervision needs and/or have mobility problems. You must be under 65 when you first claim, but once awarded you can continue to receive it after the age of 65 as long as you continue to qualify. You must have had the needs or difficulties for at least three months and expect them to last at least a further six months unless you are terminally ill. There are two components; care and mobility. You can be paid either or both of the components and the amount you receive depends on your care and/or mobility needs and whether you need help during the day and/or during the night.

You can claim DLA care component for your child from birth but it will not be paid until the child reaches 3 months unless they are terminally ill, however, the rules for the mobility component are different. The higher rate of the mobility component can only be paid when the child reaches the age of 3 and the lower rate cannot be paid until the child is 5 years old.

It is not affected by any income or capital you have. If you receive DLA you may also be entitled to disability-related premiums if you claim income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, housing benefit and/or council tax benefit, income-related employment and support allowance, or an additional amount if you claim universal credit or pension credit.

If you get DLA care component at the middle or higher rate your carer may qualify for carer’s allowance (but your carer should check whether this will affect any income support/income-based JSA/income-related ESA/housing benefit/council tax benefit, universal credit or pension credit you, or your partner, are getting).

DLA usually stops 28 days after you go into an NHS hospital (after 84 days if you are under 16). The care component usually stops after 28 days if you enter a care home unless you are paying the fees for the home yourself. DLA for adults is now being phased out and replaced by Personal Independence Payment.

DLA Child Interactive Claim Form

Employment and Support Allowance

If illness or disability means you cannot work or must consider working fewer hours, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is there as a safety net to take care of some of your financial worries. ESA comes as two separate benefits:

• A contribution-based benefit based on your history of paying National Insurance Contributions (NIC)
• A benefit paid if you are on a low income that comes as a standalone benefit or as a top-up to contributions-based ESA (known as income-related ESA)

NOTE: income-related ESA is being phased out and replaced by Universal Credit. If you are making a new claim and live in a certain geographical area (live or full service) your application will be.

Employment Support Allowance New Style Claim Form

Funeral Support Payment

Close relatives or friends of a deceased person, who accept responsibility for the costs of their funeral, may be entitled to claim a Funeral Support Payment (FSP) towards the cost of the funeral. The relative/friend must be receiving a qualifying benefit such as UC, IS or HB on the date that they claim an FSP and must claim within 6 months of the date of the funeral.

FSP’s tend to only cover a portion of the overall funeral cost, normally in the region of £800 to £1,200. Claims can be made by form or over the phone. This new Social Security Scotland scheme replaced the DWP Funeral Payment scheme in 2019.

Funeral Support Payment form (Adult)

Funeral Support Payment Form (Child)

Housing Benefit

Housing benefit (HB) is paid to help you with the cost of your rent. Help with rents in the private sector is administered through the local housing allowance (LHA) scheme but there are exceptions. HB is means-tested. If you have a non-dependant living with you this may affect the amount of HB you are awarded. If you have capital, such as savings, it must total less than £16,000 unless you receive the guarantee credit part of pension credit. The first £6,000 of capital will be ignored but if you have capital between the lower limit of £6,000 and the upper limit of £16,000 your HB will be reduced (and could be reduced to nil) HB is usually paid directly to your landlord but LHA is usually paid directly to you. You will get full HB if you receive income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or the guarantee credit of pension credit.

Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction Form

Income Support

Income Support (I.S) is a means-tested benefit designed for people who do not have enough income to support themselves. Your eligibility to claim will be based upon your income plus any savings or other capital you may have. If this is calculated to be below the qualifying criteria amount, then you may be entitled to start receiving payments.

Those who are eligible to claim are often also in receipt other welfare benefits including Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, Child Tax Credits, Carers allowance. However, I.S cannot be claimed by those who receive Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance plus anyone who is working full time. You also cannot claim income support if you are claiming Universal Credit. It can however be paid on its own should you not have any other form of income or you can top up other benefits or earnings to the basic amount you need to live on. The amount you will receive will depend entirely on your circumstances.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

Industrial injuries disablement benefit (IIDB) is paid on top of any earnings or other non-means tested benefits. It is paid if you are disabled or sick as a result of being injured or contracting a disease in the course of employment and is paid whether or not you are capable of work. Self-employment does not count. The amount you get depends on your age, whether you have dependents and the seriousness of the illness or disability which is assessed by a doctor. If you get IIDB you may also be entitled to disability-related premiums if you claim income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, housing benefit and/or council tax benefit – although IIDB counts as income for these benefits.

Job Seekers Allowance

Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) is a benefit paid those who can work but are either not working at all or are not in full-time employment (defined as less than 16 hours per week).

Contribution-based JSA

If your local JobCentre Plus calculate that you have made enough class one National Insurance contributions over the last two tax years then you will be entitled to claim contribution-based JSA. If you have been earning NI credits these will also count towards your overall contribution. You can claim contribution-based JSA even if your partner is employed or you have savings in the bank.

“New style” JSA

Certain individuals can apply for "new style" JSA, these include:

• A single person living anywhere in Great Britain
• Families or couples who live in an area where Universal Credit (UC) has been rolled out

This benefit works in a similar method to contributions-based JSA in that your partner’s savings and/or income are not considered when you make a claim. New style JSA can be claimed by itself but can also be paid along with UC. If your circumstances mean you fall into the latter category, your JSA payment will be deducted from your overall UC payment.

Income-based JSA

Unlike contribution-based JSA, Income-based JSA is calculated using your income and savings. Those individuals who fall into the following categories will get income-based JSA…

• Work on average fewer than 16 hours per week
• Your partner works less than 24 hours per week
• You have less than £16,000 in savings

It should be noted you cannot get income-based JSA and UC at the same time.

Job Start Payment

Job Start Payment (JSP) is a payment available to young people in Scotland who are on certain benefits (Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit) and need support with the costs of starting a new job.

A person must meet all of the criteria below to be eligible:

• are 16 to 24 years old; or a care leaver aged 16 to 25
• live in Scotland on the day of the job offer
• be out of paid work and in receipt of a qualifying benefit for 6 months or more
• if they are a care leaver, they must be out of paid work and in receipt of a qualifyingbenefit on the day of the job offer
• have a job offer for paid employment of 12 hours per week or more
• applications must be made after a job offer, and up to three months’ after

JSP is a one off payment of £267.65, or £428.25 if the person has a child. It can be spent on anything for starting work like clothing, travel costs or lunches.

Job Start Payment Factsheet

Local Housing Allowance

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a means-tested benefit paid to those who live in private rented accommodation and who are claiming housing benefit. The benefit is paid directly to the tenant's bank account or building society, and does not have to be assessed by the local rent officer. LHA does not replace housing benefit but instead uses a locally calculated flat rate based on two key criteria;

1. Who you live with

2. The area you live in (as opposed the amount of rent you pay)

The amount of money awarded is reviewed each year and can also change if the amount of money the tenant receives changes and/or the number of people living in the property changes.

Local Housing Allowance/CTR Form

Maternity Allowance

Maternity allowance (MA) is paid for up to 39 weeks if you are not entitled to statutory maternity pay. To qualify you must have been employed or self- employed for 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the Sunday of the week in which your baby is due. These do not have to be consecutive weeks or for the same employer and any part weeks of work will count as a full week.

Your average weekly earnings must be at least £30 per week in any 13 weeks in the 66 weeks. MA is paid at a fixed weekly rate or 90 percent of your average wages before tax, whichever is the lower. You may be able to get an additional amount for a dependant if they are on a low income and look after your children. You can claim MA from the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC) but the earliest MA can be paid is from the 11th week before the EWC, unless your baby is born before then.

You may qualify for means-tested benefits in addition to MA. Your MA may reduce or stop if you claim certain non-means-tested benefits including contributory employment and support allowance, carer’s allowance, bereavement benefits, jobseeker’s allowance.

Maternity Allowance Interactive Claim Form

Pension Credit

You may be entitled to Pension Credit (PC) if you are over pension credit qualifying age and on a low income. PC is means-tested and made up of two parts; guarantee credit (paid from pension credit qualifying age) and savings credit (paid from the age of 65). The guarantee credit tops up your income to a guaranteed minimum level. You can get more money if you are a carer, severely disabled or have qualifying housing costs (mortgage interest). There is no upper capital limit but an assumed income applies of £1 for every £500 you have over the first £6,000 which is disregarded. The guarantee credit usually entitles you to full HB and CTB and other passported benefits such as free dental treatment.

The savings credit is paid to reward you for having made some ‘modest’ provision for your retirement. You may be entitled to the savings credit if you or your partner are aged 65 or over and you have extra income from an additional pension or savings over £6,000.

PC can be backdated for up to three months. You do not have to give a reason for claiming late.

Pension Credit Claim Form

HB/CTR Pensioner Claim Form

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment is a non-means-tested benefit available to those who need extra financial help to deal with a long-term illness, mental health condition or disability. It is available to those aged 16 to 64 and is gradually replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA). It is tax-exempt, so any savings, income or capital will not be taken into consideration when you make a claim. Furthermore, if you or any dependents in your home are receiving PIP, the awarded amount will not be impacted by the Benefits Cap.

There are two tiers of payment available for those claiming PIP.

• The Mobility component which is designed for those who need assistance getting around.

• The Daily Living component which is designed for people who need help with daily tasks such as getting in and out of bed or getting dressed Both tiers have two rates; the standard rate or the enhanced rate (the latter is for those with the greatest need). Depending on your condition, you could be eligible for one or both components at the standard or enhanced rate

Retirement Pension

The state retirement pension is paid when you reach retirement age. It is based on the amount of NI contributions you have paid (or your spouse's or civil partner's in the case of a Category B pension). If you do not meet the NI contribution conditions for less than 25 percent of your working life you will not qualify for a state pension in your own right.

You must claim your state retirement pension. If you do not claim, you will be treated as if you have chosen to defer your retirement. A form should be sent to you four months before you reach retirement age.

You can work and claim your state pension. Your earnings will not affect the amount of pension that you receive but you may pay additional income tax as both earnings and state pension are taxable. You will no longer be liable to make NI contributions and should obtain an exemption certificate to give to your employer.

State Pension Forecast Form

State Pension Claim Form

Scottish Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment is a new payment for families on certain benefits or tax credits to help towards the costs of looking after a child. It’s £25 per week for each child up to the age of 16. You can apply for Scottish Child Payment whether you are in work or not.

You may be eligible if you or your partner are the parent or full-time carer of a child and if you get certain benefits or tax credits such as Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Applications can be made via the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222, by post or online at mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment.

Statutory Maternity Pay

Statutory maternity pay (SMP) is paid by your employer to enable you to take time off work before and after the birth of your child. It is paid for up to 39 weeks. To qualify you must have been employed by the same employer continuously for at least 26 weeks by the 15th week before the week your baby is due and meet the earning conditions. It is paid at 90 per cent of your average gross wages for the first six weeks and then at a standard rate or 90 per cent of your average gross wages whichever is lower.

The earliest that SMP can be paid is 11 weeks before the week the baby is due (unless the baby is born before this) and you will continue to receive it even if you decide not to return to work. You will not have to repay it. You can return to work for up to 10 days during your maternity leave without it affecting your SMP, these are known as ‘keeping in touch days’.

Statutory Sick Pay

Statutory sick pay (SSP) is paid by your employer for up to 28 weeks of sickness if you are unable to work. Some employers pay additional sick pay but they cannot pay you less than the amount of SSP. You are entitled to SSP from the first day that you start a job if you fall sick and meet the earnings conditions, but it is not paid until you have been sick for four consecutive days because the first three days are known as 'waiting days'.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit (UC) is a single monthly benefit payment for working-age people offering financial support to anyone on a low income or who is out of work. The payment is aimed at covering basic living expenses and housing costs. How much someone receives depends on their circumstances and if they have any other income or savings. You can still claim if you have a salaried job or are self-employed. Universal Credit pulls together a range of other benefits and tax credits into a single monthly payment. UC will gradually replace existing benefits in a phased roll-out over several years. These include:

• Child Tax Credit

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Housing Benefit

• Working Tax Credit

Some means-tested benefits will remain outside of UC, such as Child Benefit, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carer’s Allowance. Other important payments that will not come inside the UC umbrella are the State Pension, Pension Credit and any Council Tax Support.

Read our Universal Credit FAQ for more information.

Universal Credit Council Tax Reduction Form

Working Tax Credit

You may be entitled to working tax credit (WTC) if:

You or your partner work 16 hours or more a week and are responsible for a child.

You have a disability that puts you at a disadvantage in getting a job.

You are aged 50 or over and have been in receipt of a qualifying benefit for the previous 26 weeks and are returning to work of at least 16 hours per week.

You are aged 25 or over and work 30 hours or more per week. 

WTC can be backdated for up to three months without having to explain why you are claiming late.

WTC is usually calculated on your income in the previous tax year and the amount you receive depends on your individual or family circumstances. WTC has extra elements if you work for 30 hours or more, are treated as disabled or are 50 years or over and have recently been unemployed (but this is only payable for one year). You may also get help with up to 80 per cent of any eligible childcare costs to enable you to return or continue working.

Where you have qualifying children you will be entitled to child tax credit in addition to WTC. Certain changes of circumstance must be reported within one month but a change in income does not have to be reported – although this could result in an over or under-payment. Universal Credit (UC) was introduced in certain areas of the UK from April 2013. It impacts on several means-tested benefits including working and child tax credits and will eventually replace them as one unified benefit amount. It is slowly being rolled out across the UK and is expected to replace tax credits by the end of 2022.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is a one-off payment made to pensioners to help to deal with the cost of heating their homes in the Winter. It is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit. Those who receive the State Pension and/or Pension Credit should get the money paid automatically. However, if this does not happen, you will need to make a claim.

Young Carer Grant

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £308.15 for young carers aged 16 to 18 who live in Scotland. It’s a cash benefit to spend as they choose and they can apply if they are at school, in further education, employed or unemployed.

Young Carer Grant Factsheet

Young Carer Grant Guide