Social security payments go up

All Scottish social security benefits are increasing by 6.7% in April, providing more support for disabled people, unpaid carers and people on low incomes.

Scottish Child Payment, which helps the families of more than 327,000 children, is now worth £26.70 per child per week.

A person eligible for the highest rate of Adult Disability Payment will receive £184.30 per week.

Carer Support Payment, Scotland’s newest benefit, has gone up to £81.90 per week. The benefit for unpaid carers launched in three local authorities last year and will be available across Scotland by Autumn 2024.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:

“Our investment in social security helps low‑income families with their living costs, enables disabled people to live full and independent lives, and supports older people to heat their homes in winter.

“This financial year we are committing a record £6.3 billion for benefits expenditure – which is £1.1 billion more than the UK Government gives to the Scottish Government for social security.

“We are making a choice to increase direct support for people who need it the most and that is more important than ever during the current cost of living crisis.”

Background

Early analysis shows Social Security spending is supporting a variety of Scottish Government outcomes related to reducing child poverty and material deprivation, improving health and wellbeing and helping to narrow inequalities.

The cost of uprating benefits in 2024-25 is £370 million.

Full list of up-rated benefit payment rates

Social Security Scotland delivers the following benefits:

• Scottish Child Payment
• Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
• Best Start Grant School Age Payment
• Best Start Foods
• Adult Disability Payment
• Child Disability Payment
• Child Winter Heating Payment
• Carer’s Allowance Supplement
• Carer Support Payment (currently available in Dundee, Perth & Kinross, and Western Isles)
• Young Carer Grant
• Child Winter Heating Payment
• Winter Heating Payment
• Funeral Support Payment
• Job Start Payment

This article was amended on 3 April 2024 to clarify that Carer Support Payment is paid every week.