Information on benefits

We help the people of Scotland by delivering social security payments.

Information on how to apply, eligibility and payments is available on the mygov.scot website.

This page lists the benefits that we are currently delivering.

The Scottish Government is developing a number of other benefits that we will deliver. Find the latest information on future benefits on the gov.scot website.

Five family payments

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods
- Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £767.50 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months for families who get certain benefits.
- Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £319.80 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits.
- School Age Payment – one off payment of £319.80 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Foods – a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food.
Scottish Child Payment - £27.15 every four weeks to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits.

Disability benefits

Adult Disability Payment - extra money to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment for adults in Scotland that was previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Child Disability Payment - extra money to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Pension Age Disability Payment - extra money to help people who have reached State Pension age and have care needs because of a disability or long term ill-health condition. It replaces Attendance Allowance for people in Scotland that was previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - extra money to help meet the additional costs of living with a disability or health condition. This benefit is not open for new applications. It was designed to ensure the safe and secure transfer of adults born on or before 8 April 1948 receiving Disability Living Allowance from Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.

Carer benefits

Carer’s Allowance Supplement – an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the Department for Work and Pensions on certain dates each year.
Carer Support Payment - money to help you if you’re a carer. You can get paid £83.30 a week if you’re eligible.
Young Carer Grant - a yearly payment of £390.25 for people 16, 17, 18 or 19 who care for people who get a disability benefit for an average of 16 hours a week or more.

Heating benefits

Child Winter Heating Payment - a yearly payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. The payment is £255.80.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - a yearly payment to help people of State Pension age pay their heating bills. The payment is between £101.70 and £305.10, depending on the person’s circumstances.
Winter Heating Payment - a yearly payment to help people on qualifying benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter. The payment is £59.75.

Other benefits

Funeral Support Payment – money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral.
Job Start Payment – £319.80 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job.

Department for Work and Pensions benefits

The Department for Work and Pensions also deliver benefits in Scotland. Information on these benefits is available on the gov.uk website.

Local council benefits

Local councils also deliver benefits in Scotland. Information on these benefits is available on your local council website.

If you're unsure which council area you're in, you can search by postcode on GOV.UK.

Visit your local council website

Alternative formats

Information can be provided in alternative languages or formats by calling 0800 182 2222.

VoiceAbility

People can access VoiceAbility support directly for free by calling 0300 303 1660 or by visiting VoiceAbility.

A text relay service is available for the hard of hearing on 18001 0300 244 4000.

British Sign Language

British Sign Language users can access Contact Scotland BSL support directly by visiting Contact Scotland BSL.

Contact one of our client advisers on our web chat.

Apply in a language that’s not English

Contact Social Security Scotland to apply over the phone. You can do this in over 100 languages with an interpreter they’ll give you on the phone. You can also book a call in advance. 

Find out more about applying for a benefit in a language that's not English.

After you applied

If you've already applied for a benefit and you’ve been asked to provide some evidence, upload documents for an existing application.

Contact Social Security Scotland

You can contact Social Security Scotland by post, webchat, or on our freephone number from any phone.