Scottish benefits and grants

The Scotland Act 2016 gave Scotland new powers relating to social security, including responsibility over certain benefits.

Social Security Scotland will deliver these benefits and payments. Some of these benefits are already in place. These include the following:

• Best Start Grant – Three different grants to help children from low income families. Paid in three different periods of the child’s life; 
• Best Start Foods – A pre-paid card used to buy healthy foods for children under the age of three. You can use the card in shops and online;
• Carers Allowance Supplement – An extra payment for people in Scotland who get Carer's Allowance on a particular date. Carer's Allowance Supplement is paid twice a year and from April 2020 the  rate will be £230.10 per payment;
• Young Carer Grant – A yearly payment of £305.10 for young carers in Scotland. You must be 16, 17 or 18-years of age;
• Child Payment – This benefit will give eligible families on low incomes with children under the age of six an extra £10 per week for each child. This will be increased to the age of 16 by 2022. Applications for families with children under the age of six will be available from 9 November 2020.  If you qualify you will be paid from 22 February 2021. This payment will not affect any other benefits;
• Funeral Support payment – Helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn;
• Scottish Welfare Fund – The Scottish Welfare Fund helps families and people in Scotland who are on low incomes. You can apply for a:
  •  Crisis Grant – if you're in crisis because of a disaster (like a fire or flood), or an emergency (like losing your money or job, or an unexpected expense)
  •  Self-Isolation Support Grant – if you've been asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect because of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will lose income as a result
  •  Community Care Grant – to help you, or someone you care for, to start to live, or to carry on living, a settled life in the community. This may be able to provide items such as white goods to help furnish your property if you meet the eligibility criteria.

There are a number of other Scottish benefits or grants available that are not listed above. To find out more on this, eligibility criteria and how to apply for these benefits please visit the www.mygov.scot/benefits/ website.

As well as Scottish benefits, existing UK benefits can still be applied for. For more information visit www.gov.uk