The cost of living crisis squeezed household budgets to breaking point throughout 2022 and shows little sign of easing up as we enter the first full week of March with energy bills set to rise again - unless a campaign led by Martin Lewis can stop the UK Government raising the Energy Price Guarantee from £2,500 to £3,000 - and inflation still sitting high in double digits.
The UK Government’s cost of living support has been extended for the next financial year, however, people living in Scotland may not be aware of the unique access they have 11 devolved benefits which could help boost their household income.
It is important to ensure that you are claiming all the benefits, discounts and reductions you are entitled to from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), your local council and Social Security Scotland. The Scottish Government recently launched a new website , ‘Cost of Living Support Scotland’, which provides details on the wide range of advice, information and financial help available to households and individuals across the country - similar to the UK Government’s dedicated pages on GOV.UK here.
A few of the payments listed below are made automatically to people claiming certain benefits, but most you will need to make a claim for.
Due to processing times of anywhere between six to 16 weeks, especially for the health-related benefits, the sooner you check your eligibility and start a new claim, the quicker you will receive your first payment - if your application is successful.
Below is everything you need to know with direct links to the dedicated pages on the mygov.scot website.
11 benefits and payments unique to Scotland
The benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland are listed below.
March - £50 Winter Heating Payment
This is a new annual payment of £50 to help people on low income benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter. it was initially announced that payments would be made in February, however, this has been updated and is now being delivered this month.
The one-off payment replaces the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP - find out more here.
Child Winter Heating Assistance
This is an annual payment of £214.10 made before March 31 to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes - find out more here.
Scottish Child Payment
This is a payment of £25 per week per child - £100 every four weeks - to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
This is a one-off payment of up to £642.35 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food - find out more here.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement
This is an automatic payment of £245.70 made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year. The next qualifying date for the June payment is April 10 - find out more here.
Funeral Support Payment
This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 - find out more here.
Job Start Payment
This is a one-off payment of £267.65 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job - find out more here.
Young Carer Grant
This is an annual payment of £326.65 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more - find out more here.
Child Disability Payment
This is extra money - up to the value of £627.60 every four weeks - to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
Adult Disability Payment
This is extra money - up to the value of £627.60 every four weeks - to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
To find out more about any of the benefits or payments, or to apply visit Social Security Scotland online here or contact them on 0800 182 2222.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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