Social Security assistance in Scotland: up-rating for inflation - 2025-2026
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 2025-26
7.1 During the Scottish Budget on 4 December 2024, it was announced that the Scottish Government will increase all forms of assistance delivered under the 2018 Act by 1.7%. Best Start Foods and Job Start Payment, where up-rating remains at the discretion of Ministers, will also be up-rated by 1.7%.
7.2 IDB will increase by 4.1% in line with the growth in Average Weekly Earnings in the year from May-July 2024. The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will also be increased to £196.00 (the equivalent of 16 hours at the new National Living Wage) 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 2025.
7.3 The new rates of assistance are presented in Table 3.
| Benefit | Assistance Rates 2025-26 |
|---|---|
| Carer Support Payment | £83.30 |
| Young Carer Grant | £390.25 |
| Scottish Child Payment | £27.15 |
| Child Disability Payment - care component highest rate | £110.40 |
| Child Disability Payment - care component middle rate | £73.90 |
| Child Disability Payment - care component lowest rate | £29.20 |
| Child Disability Payment - mobility component higher rate | £77.05 |
| Child Disability Payment - mobility component lower rate | £29.20 |
| Adult Disability Payment - daily living component enhanced rate | £110.40 |
| Adult Disability Payment - daily living component standard rate | £73.90 |
| Adult Disability Payment - mobility component enhanced rate | £77.05 |
| Adult Disability Payment - mobility component standard rate | £29.20 |
| Adult Disability Payment - transitional rate | £29.20 |
| Pension Age Disability Payment - higher rate | £110.40 |
| Pension Age Disability Payment - lower rate | £73.90 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - care component highest rate | £110.40 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - care component middle rate | £73.90 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - care component lowest rate | £29.20 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - mobility component higher rate | £77.05 |
| Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - mobility component lower rate | £29.20 |
| Funeral Support Payment - standard rate | £1,279.15 |
| Funeral Support Payment - lower rate | £156.10 |
| Funeral Support Payment - medical device removal | £25.80 |
| Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment 1st child* | £767.50 |
| Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment** | £383.75 |
| Best Start Grant - Early Learning Payment | £319.80 |
| Best Start Grant - School Age Payment | £319.80 |
| Child Winter Heating Payment | £255.80 |
| Winter Heating Payment | £59.75 |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - higher rate | £305.10 |
| Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - lower rate | £203.40 |
| Job Start Payment - standard rate | £319.80 |
| Job Start Payment - higher rate | £511.65 |
| Best Start Foods - higher rate | £10.80 |
| Best Start Foods - lower rate | £5.40 |
Note: rounding to the nearest 5p is applied
*or subsequent child if relevant exemption applies
**Subsequent Child Payment & Multiple Pregnancy Supplement
7.4 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 2025. A summary of the devolved Social Security assistance rates to be delivered in Scotland in 2025-2026 is available in Annex A.
7.5 The UK Government also up-rates reserved social security benefit and pension rates each year. The rates for 2025-26 can be found at Proposed Benefit and Pension rates 2025 to 2026.
Contact
Email: ssppip@gov.scot
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