Social Security (Scotland) Act (2018): Devolved Social Security Assistance, Uprating for Inflation - A report in fulfilment of section 86A: Duty to consider effects of inflation
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. Uprating Policy for 2023-24
7.1 During the Scottish Budget on 15 December 2022 it was announced that Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Funeral Support Payment, Young Carer Grant and Carer’s Allowance Supplement will receive an uplift to the payment rates of 10.1%. Scottish Child Payment has been increased to £25 in November 2022, an above inflation increase of 25%. All other devolved benefits, i.e. those where uprating is at Ministers’ discretion, will also be uprated by 10.1%.
The new rates of assistance are presented in Table 3.
| Benefit | Assistance Rates 2023-24 |
|---|---|
| Child Disability Payment | |
| Care Component Highest Rate | £101.75 |
| Care Component Middle Rate | £68.10 |
| Care Component Lowest Rate | £26.90 |
| Mobility Component Higher Rate | £71.00 |
| Mobility Component Lower Rate | £26.90 |
| Adult Disability Payment | |
| Daily Living Component Enhanced Rate | £101.75 |
| Daily Living Component Standard Rate | £68.10 |
| Mobility Component Enhanced Rate | £71.00 |
| Mobility Component Standard Rate | £26.90 |
| Scottish Child Payment | £25.00 |
| Child Winter Heating Assistance | £235.70 |
| Winter Heating Payment | £55.05 |
| Funeral Support Payment (higher rate) | £1,178.75 |
| Funeral Support Payment (lower rate) | £143.85 |
| Funeral Support Payment (medical device removal rate) | £23.75 |
| Job Start Payment standard rate | £294.70 |
| Job Start Payment higher rate | £471.50 |
| Young Carer Grant | £359.65 |
| Carers Allowance Supplement (bi-annual rate) | £270.50 |
| Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and Baby Payment 1st child | £707.25 |
| Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and Baby Payment subsequent | £353.65 |
| Best Start Grant: Early Learning Payment | £294.70 |
| Best Start Grant: School Age Payment | £294.70 |
| Best Start Foods: Higher payment rate | £9.90 |
| Best Start Foods: Lower payment rate | £4.95 |
Note: rounding to the nearest 5p is applied
7.2 Scottish Child Payment will not be further uprated in April 2023, as it was already increased to £25 per week in November 2022, an above-inflation increase of 25%. SCP, which started being paid to clients in February 2021, was benefitting over 100,000 children at the end of September this year[16]. Eligibility was widened to eligible children aged under 16 in November 2022. As a result, by the end of 2022-23, the Scottish Fiscal Commission expect over 300,000 children to be benefitting from the payment.[17]
7.3 Scottish Ministers will bring forward legislation to uprate the assistance for which they have executive competence, namely AA, CA, DLA, PIP, SCP, SDA, IIDB and IDB, by April 2023. A summary of the devolved Social Security assistance rates to be delivered in Scotland in 2023-2024 is available in Annex A.
7.4 The UK Government also uprates reserved social security benefit and pension rates each year. The rates for 2023-24 can be found at: Benefit and pension rates 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Contact
Email: CCPU@gov.scot
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