ALL of Scotland’s devolved benefits will increase by 1.7% in April, the Social Justice Secretary is set to announce today.
Shirley-Anne Somerville will appear before the Social Justice and Social Security Committee at Holyrood where she will announce the move which will see, among other benefits, the flagship Scottish Child Payment rise from £26.70 per week to £27.15.
The annual increase is pegged to the consumer price index (CPI) rate of inflation from the previous September.
According to the Scottish Fiscal Commission, the increase will cost £111 million, 85% of which will be covered by funding from Westminster.
Appearing at the committee, the minister is expected to say: “The Scottish Government has made a conscious decision to invest in social security for the people of Scotland, with the Scottish Fiscal Commission forecasting social security benefit expenditure of more than £6.9 billion in 2025-26 – around £1.3 billion more than will be received in Block Grant Adjustments from the UK Government.
“We recognise the importance of maintaining the real value of all social security payments.
“Payments such as the Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grants are integral to the First Minister’s mission of ending child poverty.
“That is why, this year, we amended the 2018 Act to ensure that all payments delivered under this Act will be required to be increased in line with inflation every year.
“This is a significant divergence from the approach taken by the UK Government, where in addition to pensions, only disability, carers and industrial injuries benefits are required to be up-rated each year.”
The Scottish Government understands the challenges many people face as prices rise in the economy, which is why it has protected the value of benefits by committing to up-rate payments such as Best Start Grants, Best Start Foods and the winter heating payment every year.
The Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 will also increase the earnings limits for Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance from £151 to £196, helping to remove barriers to work and provide more stable support.
