Examining outcomes associated with Social Security Scotland spending: an evidence synthesis

7. Annex A – Summary of benefits included in this review

1. Scottish Child Payment (SCP) (U16s)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Scottish Child Payment is intended to deliver regular, additional financial help to low-income families. It is one of a range of Scottish Government policies intended to tackle child poverty.
• How much is it? It is a weekly payment of £25 for each child in the family aged under 16, paid every four weeks.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to the main person looking after the eligible child, or their partner.
• Who is eligible for it? People who live in Scotland, receive a qualifying benefit, and are responsible for a child aged under 16.
• When was it introduced? Scottish Child Payment opened for applications in November 2020, and launched in February 2021.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? Initially introduced at £10 per week for eligible families with children under six in February 2021. In April 2022, increased to £20 per week. From November 2022, in had increased to £25 per week and was extended to include eligible children under 16.
• Take-up rates? Take-up was estimated to be 95% for children aged 0-5 in the 2022-23 financial year. The estimated take-up rate of children aged 6 to 15 at the end of the financial year in March 2023 is 77%. Overall, the estimated take-up rate of all children aged under 16 at the end of the financial year in March 2023 is 83%. These estimates will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? The benefit is not available in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £189,984,175.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £427 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast average caseload for the benefit is 327,000 in 2023-24.

2. Best Start Grant (BSG) – Pregnancy & Baby Payment; Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment

• What is the benefit designed to do? Best Start Grant aims to reduce pressure on low-income families. Is comprised of three payments, described in the table. It is not available in the rest of the UK.
• Who is eligible for it? Parents and carers who live in Scotland and are responsible for a child. Those aged over 18 must be on a qualifying benefit, unless they are aged 18/19 and are dependent on someone else i.e. named on their parent or carer’s benefit claim. Those aged under 18 do not need to be on a qualifying benefit.
• Who is the benefit paid to? The main person looking after the eligible child, or their partner.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £22 million in 2023-24.
• Uprating? The benefit is not legally required to be uprated each year by inflation, but will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts (December 2023) and the funding envelope.

Pregnancy and Baby Payment:

• Introduced in December 2018.
• Helps with the costs of having a baby.
• £702.25 on the birth of the first child, and £353.65 on the birth of subsequent children.
• Take-up was estimated to be 83% in 2021-22. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Total value of payments was £6,726,667 in 2022-23.
• The forecast caseload for the benefit is 17,000 in 2023-24.

Early Learning Payment

• Introduced in April 2019.
• Helps with the costs of early learning and support child development.
• £294.70 for children between 2 and 3.5 years old.
• Take-up was estimated to be 80% in 2020-21. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Total value of payments was £7,009,617 in 2022-23.
• The forecast caseload for the benefit is 25,000 in 2023-24.

School Age Payment

• Introduced in June 2019.
• Helps with the costs of preparing for school.
• £294.70 around the time a child is first old enough to start school.
• Take-up was estimated to be 97% in 2022-23. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Total value of payments was £5,804,114 in 2022-23.
• The forecast caseload for the benefit is 22,000 in 2023-24.

3. Best Start Foods (BSF)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Best Start Foods is a prepaid card which is designed to provide financial support for low income families to buy healthy foods like milk, fruit and vegetables. The card can be used like a normal bank card with contactless or Chip & Pin features.
• How much is it? It is a weekly payment of £4.95 for pregnant women and families with children aged 1 and 2, while families with children aged under 1 receive a double payment of £9.90 to support both the mother and the child. Payments are made every four weeks.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to either (i) the pregnant woman or their partner, or (ii) the main person looking after the eligible child or their partner.
• Who is eligible for it? People who live in Scotland and are either pregnant or responsible for a child aged under 3. Those aged 18 or over must be on a qualifying benefit and, where applicable, an income threshold applies (note that income thresholds will be removed in 2024). Those aged under 18 do not need to be on any benefits to qualify for Best Start Foods.
• When was it introduced? Best Start Foods was launched in August 2019. It replaced the UK Government’s Healthy Start scheme in Scotland, with the transition period completed by the end of March 2020. Healthy Start is still available to low income families in the rest of the UK.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? Take-up was estimated to be 92% in the 2022-23 financial year. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? Best Start Foods replaced the Healthy Start scheme in Scotland. Healthy Start is still available in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is not legally required to be uprated each year by inflation, but will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts (December 2023) and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £12,605,200.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £14 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast average caseload for the benefit is 42,000 in 2023-24.

4. Funeral Support Payment (FSP)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Funeral Support Payment is designed to contribute towards the cost of a funeral for people on low incomes, with an overall aim of reducing funeral-related poverty and supporting people through the bereavement process.
• How much is it? The average payment is £1,800, but the actual amount depends on a number of factors. The payment includes a fixed rate for funeral costs, and it can also be used for other costs - i.e. burial or cremation costs, travel costs, transport costs to move the person who died, document costs, and medical costs. Currently, the fixed rate for funeral costs is £1178.75 if the person who died did not have a pre-paid funeral plan, or £143.85 if the person who died did have a pre-paid funeral plan.
• Who is the benefit paid to? The person who is responsible for the funeral costs, or their partner.
• Who is eligible for it? People who live in Scotland, receive a qualifying benefit (or have a partner who receives one), and who are reasonably responsible for funeral costs (or have a partner who is responsible for funeral costs).
• When was it introduced? Funeral Support Payment was launched in September 2019.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? Take-up was estimated to be 61% in the 2022-23 financial year. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? Funeral Support Payment replaced the UK Government’s Funeral Expenses Payment, which is still available to people on low incomes in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and as such will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £9,193,913.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £13 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast caseload for the benefit is 6,000 in 2023-24.

5. Job Start Payment (JSP)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Job Start Payment is designed to help young people on low incomes meet some of the initial costs of starting work, including transport costs.
• How much is it? It is a one-off payment of either £294.70, or £471.50 for the main carers of children.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to the young person who is starting work.
• Who is eligible for it? People who on the date of the job offer: (a) are living in Scotland, (b) are aged 16-24, (c) have been offered a paid job which averages at least 12 hours per week over a four week period, and (d) have been out of paid work and receiving an income related benefit continuously for six months or more. Care leavers only have to be out of work and in receipt of a qualifying benefit on the date of job offer, not the preceding six months. They can also claim Job Start Payment until their 26th birthday.
• When was it introduced? Job Start Payment was launched in August 2020.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? Take-up was estimated to be 15% in the 2022-23 financial year. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? The benefit is not available in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is not legally required to be uprated each year by inflation, but will still be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts (December 23) and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £125,386.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The benefit is not forecast by SFC as it falls below their materiality limit.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The benefit is not forecast by SFC as it falls below their materiality limit.

6. Child Winter Heating Payment (CWHP)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Child Winter Heating Payment is designed to help the most severely disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over the winter.
• How much is it? It is one payment made between October and March. The payment for 2023-2024 is £235.70.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is generally paid to the main person who is looking after the child or young person (on the child and/or young person’s behalf).
• Who is eligible for it? In the third full week in September (i.e. the ‘qualifying week’), children and young people in Scotland who are under 19 and receive a qualifying benefit are eligible. The qualifying benefits are (i) the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment, (ii) the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children, (iii) the enhanced daily living component of Personal Independence Payment, or (iv) the enhanced rate of the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment.
• When was it introduced? The first payments were made in Winter 2020-21.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? Inclusion of those on the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP was introduced in November 2021, and inclusion of those on the enhanced rate of ADP was introduced in March 2022. This resulted in a significant proportion of payments being backdated.
• Take-up rates? N/A – Child Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to children or young people who meet the eligibility criteria on at least one day of the qualifying week.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? The benefit is not available elsewhere in the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is not legally required to be uprated each year by inflation, but will still be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts (Dec 2023) and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £5,685,000.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £7 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast caseload for the benefit is 28,000 in 2023-24.

7. Young Carer Grant (YCG)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Young Carer Grant is designed to help young carers improve their own quality of life by taking part in opportunities which are the norm for non-caring peers, and to provide some recognition for their unpaid caring role.
• How much is it? It is a one-off payment of £359.65 which can be applied for annually by young people aged 16, 17 or 18 with caring responsibilities.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to the young carer.
• Who is eligible for it? Carers aged 16, 17 or 18 years old who have been caring for an average of 16 hours per week for at least 13 weeks before application. The care cannot be part of a volunteer scheme or paid job, and if more than one young person cares for the same person they should agree who should apply for the grant. Young people with no recourse to public funds can apply for Young Carer Grant without risking their immigration status.
• When was it introduced? Young Carer Grant was launched in October 2019.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? Take-up was estimated to be 75% in the 2022-23 financial year. This estimate will be updated in Autumn 2024.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? The benefit is not available in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and as such will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £856,341.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The benefit is not forecast by SFC as it falls below their materiality limit.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The benefit is not forecast by SFC as it falls below their materiality limit.

8. Child Disability Payment (CDP) (extended to 18)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have. A child’s disability can be either physical or mental and Child Disability Payment can be claimed even if the child does not have an official diagnosis.
• How much is it? There are two components with different rates depending on the severity of the child’s disability.
  • The care component has a lowest (£26.90), middle (£68.10), and highest (£101.70) weekly rate.
  • The mobility component has a lower (£26.90) and higher (£71.00) weekly rate.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid into the bank account stipulated on the application form. Any adult with parental responsibilities and rights or a guardian can apply for Child Disability Payment. In some cases an appointee can apply if the child does not live with a parent or guardian. If the child is terminally ill anyone can apply for the child as long as the person applying has the informed consent from the parent, guardian or appointee.
• Who is eligible for it? Disabled children aged under 16 who either (a) live in Scotland or (b) live in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar and have a genuine link to Scotland. When making a decision on a claim, Social Security Scotland has access detailed decision making guidance, experienced medical practitioners, and specialist advisers with extensive knowledge and experience of working in health and social care.
• When was it introduced? Introduction of the benefit was phased:
  • Child Disability Payment was piloted for new applicants in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles in July 2021. It was rolled out to new applicants across Scotland in November 2021.
  • Children in Scotland who were already claiming the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for Children have had their cases automatically transferred to Child Disability Payment. The case transfer process began in October 2021 for children aged over 15 and a half, and Spring 2022 for children under 15 and a half. As of June 2023, 99% of cases had been transferred to Child Disability Payment.
• Take-up rates? N/A - Estimates of take-up are not yet available for the benefit.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? Child Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children, which is still available to disabled children in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and as such will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £201,717,500. This includes new applicants and case transfers.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £378 million in 2023-24. This includes Child DLA expenditure administered by DWP.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast average caseload for the benefit is 73,000 in 2023-24. This includes people receiving Child DLA from DWP.

9. Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Adult Disability Payment provides support for people who have a disability or a long term health condition that affects their everyday life.
• How much is it? There are two components with different rates depending on how the person’s condition affects their ability to do everyday activities or get around.
  • The daily living component has a standard weekly award (£26.90) and an enhanced weekly award (£101.75).
  • The mobility component has a standard weekly award (£26.90) and an enhanced weekly award (£71.00).
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid into the bank account stipulated on the application form. Disabled people can apply themselves, or someone can apply on their behalf (e.g. a family member, friend, carer, support worker or appointee).
• Who is eligible for it? People who are between 16 and State Pension age, and who have a long term physical or mental health condition, or terminal illness. Claimants must live in Scotland or live in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar and have a genuine link to Scotland. When making a decision on a claim, Social Security Scotland has access detailed decision making guidance, experienced medical practitioners, and specialist advisers with extensive knowledge and experience of working in health and social care.
• When was it introduced? Introduction of the benefit was phased:
  • Adult Disability Payment piloted for new applicants in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles in March 2022. It was rolled out to new applicants across Scotland in August 2022.
  • People in Scotland who were already claiming the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment or Working Age Disability Living Allowance have had their cases transferred to Adult Disability Payment. The case transfer process began in August 2022 and is expected to be complete by Summer 2024. Transfers either happen automatically or are fast-tracked e.g. if the person’s award is about to end or they have reported a change in their condition.
• Take-up rates? N/A - Estimates of take-up are not yet available for the benefit.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? Adult Disability Payment replaces the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment and Working Age Disability Living Allowance, which are still available to disabled people in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and as such will be uprated in 2024/25 The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £79,424,790. This includes new applicants and case transfers.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £2,677 million in 2023-24. This includes PIP expenditure administered by DWP.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast average caseload for the benefit is 416,000 in 2023-24. This includes people receiving PIP from DWP.

10. Winter Heating Payment (WHP)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Winter Heating Payment is designed to help people on low income benefits who might have extra heating needs.
• How much is it? It is one payment of £50 that’s made between February and April.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to low income households that receive a qualifying benefit and meet the other eligibility criteria.
• Who is eligible for it? People in Scotland who on at least one day of the ‘qualifying week’ in November: (a) receive a qualifying benefit, and (b) meet one other specific requirement of their qualifying benefit. For example, people who are employed (or self-employed) and receive Universal Credit must also get a child or young person disability entitlement.
• When was it introduced? The first payments were made in Winter 2022-23.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? N/A – Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to people who meet the eligibility criteria on at least one day of the qualifying week.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? Winter Heating Payment replaced the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment, which is still available to eligible people on low incomes in the rest of the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is not legally required to be uprated each year by inflation but will still be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts (December 2023) and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in Winter 2022-23 was £19,706,500.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £22 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast caseload for the benefit is 397,000 in 2023-24.

11. Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS)

• What is the benefit designed to do? Carers Allowance Supplement is a temporary top-up of Carer’s Allowance until the Scottish Government takes on full responsibility for the benefit. It is intended to have a positive impact on carer’s finances and their quality of life, and recognise carers for their contribution to society.
• How much is it? It is two payments in total - £270.50 in June and December. There are no applications for Carer’s Allowance Supplement - payments are made automatically based on receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
• Who is the benefit paid to? It is paid to the carer.
• Who is eligible for it? People who live in Scotland (or have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland) and are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance on the qualifying dates. There are other conditions – i.e. carers must be over 16, not in full-time education, not earning more than £128 per week after tax, and be providing at least 35 hours of unpaid care per week to someone in receipt of certain disability benefits.
• When was it introduced? The first payments were made in September/October 2018.
• Was the introduction of the benefit phased? The introduction of the benefit was not phased.
• Take-up rates? N/A - It is automatically paid to people who claim Carer’s Allowance. However, this does not mean that all eligible carers in Scotland claim Carer’s Allowance. The DWP does not produce estimates of take-up for Carer’s Allowance.
• Is the benefit available in the rest of the UK? The benefit is not available elsewhere in the UK.
• Uprating? The benefit is legally required to be uprated each year by inflation and as such will be uprated in 2024/25. The cost of uprating is included within the latest SFC forecasts and the funding envelope.
• Total expenditure? The total value of payments in 2022-23 was £42,650,000.
• Forecast costs from SFC? The forecast spend for the benefit is £48 million in 2023-24.
• Forecast caseload from SFC? The forecast caseload for the benefit is 88,000 in 2023-24.