People are being urged to check whether they are claiming all the benefits they’re entitled to using a new Scottish Government website.
Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson has also urged families and friends to talk about what they could be entitled to in a bid to drive take-up and remove stigma.
The Scottish Government now delivers 12 benefits using devolved social security powers, with seven of these only available in Scotland.
Macpherson said: “All of us may need to access social security support at some point during our lifetime. “As this is Challenge Poverty Week, I would like to urge everyone to find out more about what they may be eligible for, and to encourage their friends and family to do the same.
“Conversations with people we know can raise awareness of benefits, which is so important at a time when people face pressures caused by the cost of living crisis. Talking about social security can also help to reduce any stigma around claiming benefits.
“People should not feel stigma about claiming benefits they are entitled to – this financial support could make a real difference for people right now. People should find out if they are eligible and apply for what they are entitled to.
“Social security is making a key contribution to tackling poverty and promoting equality. It is a shared investment to help build a fairer and more equal society. The Scottish Government has been using its limited powers and finite budget to support people who need it most. Last week we launched a new website providing information on the wide range of advice and financial support available to people in Scotland.
“I encourage people to look at this new website and share it with people they know.”
The Scottish Government’s new cost of living support website: gov.scot/costoflivingsupport
Payments administered by Social Security Scotland:
- Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £642.35 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £267.65 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Grant School Age Payment – one off payment of £267.65 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.
- Carer’s Allowance Supplement – an automatic payment of £245.70 made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
- 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 – £267.65 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.
- Young Carer Grant – an annual payment of more than £326.65 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more.
- Child Winter Heating Assistance - a £214.10 payment to help young people and families of a child under 19 to heat their homes. Children and young people can get the payment if they get the highest rate care component of Child Disability Payment or Disability Living Allowance for Children, the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.
- Scottish Child Payment - a unique to Scotland benefit that gives qualifying parents and carers £80 every four weeks to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 6. On 14 November, the payment will be increased to £25 per week and fully rolled out to eligible children under the age of 16.
- Child Disability Payment - a payment providing 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.
- Adult Disability Payment - a payment providing extra money to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
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