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This blog summarises the benefits available from Social Security Scotland as at April 2024.

NB: this is only a very brief overview. For further detail and to make applications see: https://www.mygov.scot/browse/benefits

(See glossary at end for abbreviations).

A printable pdf version is available as a SPICe research briefing.

Five Family Payments

Benefit	Client group	Amount	Eligibility
Best Start Foods	Child under 1	£10.60 per week	On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, WTC, IS, PC, ibJSA, irESA, HB). OR under 18 OR 18/19 yrs and dependent (parent/carer gets CB, CTC, child element UC, child addition PC, or kinship carer)
Best Start Foods	Pregnant OR child aged 1 or 2	£5.30 per week	As above
Best Start Grant: pregnancy and baby	Pregnancy to six months	£377.35 (£754.65 for first born) one-off grant	As above
Best Start Grant: Early learning	Age 2 to 3 ½	£314.45 one-off grant	As above
Best Start Grant: School age	Born 1/3/19 to 19/2/20. Must apply between 1/6/24 and 28/2/25.	£314.45 one-off grant	As above
Scottish Child Payment	Children under 16	£26.70 per week	On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, ibJSA, irESA, IS, PC, WTC).

Funeral Costs

Funeral Support Payment

Responsible for funeral costs. Normally nearest relative.

Higher rate; £1,257.75. Lower rate: £153.50. Some additional costs can be claimed.

On qualifying benefit (UC, CTC, IS, PC, HB, ibJSA, irESA, WTC+ disability/severe disability element)

Benefit	Client group	Amount	Eligibility
Carer’s Allowance Supplement	Unpaid carers getting Carer’s Allowance	£288.60, in June and December.	Gets Carer’s Allowance on qualifying date (8 April 2024 for June payment, 7 October 2024 for December payment). Paid automatically
Young Carer’s Grant	Young carers 16, 17 or 18, not getting Carer’s Allowance	£383.75 annually	Caring 16 hours a week for 3 months for someone getting certain disability benefits
Carer Support Payment	Unpaid carers (n.b. certain local authorities only until October 2024. (Carer’s Allowance from DWP available to those not in the pilot areas)	£81.90 per week	Caring 35 hours a week, for someone getting certain disability benefits. Earning £151 or less per week

Benefit	Client group	Amount	Eligibility
Job Start Payment	Age 16 to 24, out of work for six months. Carer leaver aged 16 to 25, out of work	£314.45 (£503.10 if main carer of a child)	On qualifying benefit (ibJSA, IS, ir-ESA, UC) AND a job offer of at least 12 hrs per week

Benefit	Client group	Amount	Eligibility
Child Winter Heating Payment	Disabled children and young people	£251.50 annually from November	On qualifying benefit in the qualifying week (higher rate care CDP, enhanced daily living PIP/ADP in week of 3^rd Monday in September) Paid automatically
Winter Heating Payment	Low income: pensioner, child under 5 or disabled person	£58.75 annually from mid December	On qualifying benefit in the qualifying week (PC, certain elements of UC, ibJSA, irESA, IS, SMI paid in week of 1^st Monday in November) Paid automatically

n.b. Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is due to start in 2024. This will replace Winter Fuel Payment.

Benefit	Client group	Amount	Eligibility
Child Disability Payment	Disabled children and young people	Care: £28.70 or £72.65 or £108.55 per week. Mobility: £28.70 or £75.75 per week	Rates paid depend on needs assessed against set criteria.
Adult Disability Payment	Working age disabled people	Daily Living: £72.65 or £108.55 per week. Mobility: £28.70 or £75.75 per week	As above. (ADP also has a ‘transitional’ care rate of £28.70 for those transferring from lower rate care DLA)
Short Term Assistance	Disabled people	Tops up CDP/ADP to the amount paid before it was reduced.	Was getting CDP or ADP and are now challenging a decision to stop or reduce that benefit. Apply when asking for redetermination

n.b. Pension Age Disability Assistance is due to start in 2024. This will replace Attendance Allowance.