Devolved Social Security assistance: up-rating for inflation in 2024-2025
A report on the impact of inflation on devolved social security assistance as required under section 86A of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.
7. Up-rating Policy for 2024-25
7.1 During the Scottish Budget on 19 December 2023, it was announced that the Scottish Government will increase all forms of carer's assistance, disability assistance, employment injury assistance, funeral expense assistance and Scottish Child Payment by 6.7%. All other devolved benefits where up-rating is at the discretion of Ministers will also be up-rated by 6.7% save for IDB which will increase by 8.5% in line with the growth in Average Weekly Earnings in the year from May-July 2023. The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will also be increased by 8.5% in line with the growth in Average Weekly Earnings in the year to May-July 2023, aligning with the increase of the earnings limit for Carer's Allowance. Legislation will be brought forward to up-rate these forms of assistance by April 2024.
7.2 The new rates of assistance are presented in Table 3.
| Benefit | Assistance Rates 2024-25 |
|---|---|
| Child Disability Payment | |
| Care Component Highest Rate | £108.55 |
| Care Component Middle Rate | £72.65 |
| Care Component Lowest Rate | £28.70 |
| Mobility Component Higher Rate | £75.75 |
| Mobility Component Lower Rate | £28.70 |
| Adult Disability Payment | |
| Daily Living Component Enhanced Rate | £108.55 |
| Daily Living Component Standard Rate | £72.65 |
| Mobility Component Enhanced Rate | £75.75 |
| Mobility Component Standard Rate | £28.70 |
| Transitional rate | £28.70 |
| Scottish Child Payment | £26.70 |
| Young Carer Grant | £383.75 |
| Carers Allowance Supplement (bi-annual rate) | £288.60 |
| Carer Support Payment | £81.90 |
| Funeral Support Payment (higher rate) | £1,257.75 |
| Funeral Support Payment (lower rate) | £153.50 |
| Funeral Support Payment (medical device removal rate) | £25.35 |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | £251.50 |
| Winter Heating Payment | £58.75 |
| Job Start Payment standard rate | £314.45 |
| Job Start Payment higher rate | £503.10 |
| Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and Baby Payment 1st child (or subsequent child if relevant exemption applies) | £754.65 |
| Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and Baby Payment subsequent child | £377.35 |
| Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and Baby Payment subsequent child multiple pregnancy supplement | £377.35 |
| Best Start Grant: Early Learning Payment | £314.45 |
| Best Start Grant: School Age Payment | £314.45 |
| Best Start Foods: Higher payment rate (from February 2024 "double the basic rate") | £10.60 |
| Best Start Foods: Lower payment rate (from February 2024 "the basic rate") | £5.30 |
Note: rounding to the nearest 5p is applied
7.3 Scottish Ministers will also bring forward legislation to up-rate the forms of assistance within devolved competence under UK legislation and delivered by the DWP via agency arrangements by April 2024. These include Attendance Allowance, Carer's Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Severe Disablement Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and Industrial Death Benefit. A summary of the devolved Social Security assistance rates to be delivered in Scotland in 2024-2025 is available in Annex A.
7.4 The UK Government also up-rates reserved social security benefit and pension rates each year. The rates for 2024-25 can be found at Proposed Benefit and Pension rates 2024 to 2025.
Contact
Email: ccpu@gov.scot
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