Useful Benefits
Helpful information to make sure you receive help and benefits you are entitled to
There are a range of benefits available to help individuals and families on low incomes. Find out what help is available and if you're eligible?
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for adults who have reached pension age, have a physical or mental disability and need help with personal care or supervision to remain safe.
There is a cap on the total amount you can receive from the main out of work benefits and children's benefits. If your total income from the relevant benefits is greater than the cap level, your housing benefit or housing element of Universal Credit will be reduced so that your total benefit does not exceed the cap.
This is available to people whose spouse or civil partner dies on or after 06/04/17. To qualify you must have been under State Pension age when your spouse or civil partner died and they must have met certain National Insurance conditions.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods are payments that help towards the cost of being pregnant or looking after a child. Best Start Grants consist of 3 one off payments (a pregnancy and baby payment, an early learning payment and a school age payment).
The Blue Badge scheme allows people with severe mobility problems and those with certain other disabilities or conditions to park close to places they wish to visit.
Carer's Allowance is a benefit paid to people who regularly spend at least 35 hours per week caring for someone who is disabled (the person you care for must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit)
Carer's Allowance Supplement is an extra payment from the Scottish Government to carers in Scotland who are receiving a full or partial Carer's Allowance payment from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Child Benefit is a payment that is made in respect of a child (a child under the age of 16) or qualifying young person (a young person under the age of 20 who is in full time non advanced education or approved training).
In Scotland, the main disability benefits are being transferred to the Scottish government. Child Disability Benefit was introduced in November 2021 and will replace Disability Living Allowance for children.
The payment has been developed to help with the extra costs of caring for a child or a young person who has a disability or health condition.
Child Winter Heating Assistance
Child Winter Heating Assistance was introduced by the Scottish Government. It is a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter if they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit.
Cold Weather Payments will be made when the temperature in your area is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. You need to be in receipt of certain benefits to be eligible for a cold weather payment.
If you are responsible for Council Tax you may be eligible for Council Tax Reduction to reduce your Council Tax bill. There are also a number of Council Tax discounts and exemptions available which could help to reduce your Council Tax bill.
Disability Living Allowance (for children)
In Scotland, the main disability benefits are being transferred to the Scottish government. Child Disability Benefit was introduced in November 2021 and will replace Disability Living Allowance for children.
Disability Living Allowance is a payment to help with the extra costs of caring for a child or a young person who has a disability or health condition.
Disability Living Allowance for adults
Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment for working age people. You cannot make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance.
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP)
DHP can help if your rent isn't covered by your Housing Benefit award or housing costs award through Universal Credit. You need to:
- Be receiving Housing Benefit or Universal Credit with housing costs
- Have a shortfall between that award and your rent
Employment and Support Allowance (New Style)
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a benefit for adults whose ability to work is limited through ill health or disability. You can apply if you're employed, self-employed or unemployed.
Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. It will usually not cover the full cost of a funeral but should help to pay some of the costs.
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent.
Find out how to apply for housing benefit and report a change of circumstances
Income Support is a means tested benefit which provides for basic living expenses for you (and your partner if applicable). It can be paid on its own if you have no other income or it can top up other benefits or earnings from part time work.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)
Industrial injuries disablement benefit is the main industrial injuries benefit and is paid to compensate those who have suffered disablement from a 'loss of physical or mental facility' caused by an industrial accident or prescribed disease either at work or on an approved employment training scheme or course.
You can apply for a Job Start Payment to help you with the costs of starting a new job. It is a one off payment available to young people in Scotland who are on certain benefits, and need help with the costs of starting a new job.
Jobseeker's Allowance (New Style)
'New Style' Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people who are unemployed or working less than 16 hours per week and who are seeking work.'New Style' JSA is a fortnightly payment that can be claimed on its own or at the same time as Universal Credit (UC).
If you are not eligible for statutory maternity pay, you may qualify for maternity allowance. This depends on how long you have been employed or self employed for and your average earnings over a certain period.
Pension credit is a means tested benefit for people on a low income who are at least pension age.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for adults who have physical or mental disability and need help taking part in everyday life and/or find it difficult to get around. It replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 or over.
Scottish Child Payment is a payment made to families on low incomes in Scotland who have children under 6 years of age.
The Scottish Welfare Fund provides support through the award of grants. These do not need to be paid back
Community Care Grants can be awarded to help with costs to continue living in the community or keep your family together. The grant could be to help with basic essentials such as furniture, household items etc.
Crisis Grants can be paid if you are in a crisis situation and can help with the most urgent living costs including food and heating costs
Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants do not need to be paid back.
Tax Credits are means-tested, tax-free payments administered by HMRC.
Universal Credit (UC) is a single monthly payment (in some circumstances it can be paid twice a month) for people who are working age and are looking for work or on a low income.
This is a lump sum paid if you have reached pension age (please note if you are just turning pension age you have to have reached pension age in a certain qualifying week).
The young carer grant is an annual payment from the Scottish government for young carers in Scotland who are not eligible for Carer's Allowance.
