There are millions of households across Scotland just learning to adjust to the shift in seasons, forcing a lot of people to tighten up on their spending ahead of Christmas.
While many people will have reviewed their budgets and cut down on their finances as best they could, it is still worthwhile to check whether you should be claiming certain benefits, discounts or other financial support. The Daily Record reports that this support includes benefits, Council Tax Reductions and TV licence discounts.
Many people have a stereotypical way of thinking that there is a stigma attached to claiming benefits, but there was an estimated £15 billion state support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) that went unclaimed last year. The Scottish Government recently announced the launch of a campaign that encourages people to talk about benefits, in order to encourage others to claim support.
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There are several ways to boost your finances, but you will need to invest a bit of time for some of them - however, doing these now could make winter 2022 a bit easier. Check out our guide below to see what you could be claiming.
Check if you or someone in your household are eligible for a cost of living support payment
You could get up to three different styles of this cost of living payment depending on your circumstances on a certain date, or during a particular period.
£324 Instalment of Cost of Living Payment
- If you get a qualifying low-income/means-tested benefit and Tax Credits you will receive this payment between November 8 - 23. Tax Credits-only claimants will receive the money shortly after this payment window closes.
- This is paid per claim, so a couple claiming would qualify for one payment
£150 Disability Cost of Living Payment
- If you get a qualifying disability benefit
- This was paid out during September, however, some people are still waiting on payments
£300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment
- If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2022 to 2023 this will be added to your entitlement in November or December
- This is paid per claim, so a couple claiming would qualify for one payment
If you believe you should have received the first cost of living payment - worth £326 - you can report it missing on the GOV.UK website here. Full details about each of these payments can be found here.
Universal Credit
This benefit is the main one to check eligibility on, which has been designed to help households on a low income, or in unemployment.
How to claim Universal Credit
According to the UK Government, a person may be able to claim Universal Credit if:
You are on a low-income or out of work
You are 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)
You are under State Pension age (or your partner is)
You and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you
You live in the UK
If the claimant lives with their partner, their savings and income will also be taken into account, even if they are not eligible for Universal Credit. It is also worth noting that you won't be able to claim any means-tested benefits if your capital and savings amount adds up to more than the upper limit of £16,000.
These means-tested benefits include:
Universal Credit
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
Income Support
Housing Benefit
However, savings and capital are not taken into account when applying for the New Style Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). This particular benefit can be claimed at the same time as Universal Credit, or on its own.
The New Style JSA is a contribution-based benefit, which means that you may be able to get it if you have paid enough National Insurance (NI) contributions in the two full tax years before the year you are planning to claim in. It is paid every two weeks, and if you qualify, you can claim the benefit for up to 192 days.
If you qualify for both ‘New Style’ JSA and Universal Credit, any ‘New Style’ JSA you receive will be taken into account as income for Universal Credit. To make a claim for Universal Credit, visit the GOV.UK website here and for more information on claiming Jobseeker's Allowance, read more here.
Universal Credit payments - monthly rates
Standard allowance for Universal Credit is as follows:
Single
Single under 25: £265.31
Single 25 or over: £334.91
Couple
Joint claimants both under 25: £416.45
Joint claimants, one or both 25 or over: £525.72
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Those over the age of 16 and under State Pension age can claim Personal Independence Payment. It is worth between £97.80 and £627.60 each month.
A PIP is a benefit delivered by the DWP to those with a long-term illness, disability or physical or mental health condition - including arthritis, dementia and back pain. The list is ever growing for those who can claim the payment.
PIP is non-means tested, tax-free and available to those in and out of work, it can also be claimed on top of other benefits as it is not affected by the benefits cap - find out more here.
Adult Disability Payment (ADP)
This benefit is a devolved payment that has replaced new claims for PIP for those living in Scotland. The payment rates and eligibility criteria are the same as PIP, but the main difference is the application process.
Find out more about claiming ADP here.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) / Child Disability Payment (Scotland only)
Children under the age of 16 can claim a DLA or a Child Disability Payment. It is worth between £97.80 and £627.60 each month.
DLA claimants in Scotland are now being transferred from the DWP to the new devolved benefit of Child Disability Payment. This benefit is being delivered by Social Security Scotland.
Both benefits pay the same rates and have the same eligibility criteria for PIP. Young people in Scotland receiving PIP (between 16 and 18), DLA or the Child Disability Payment will also receive the Child Winter Heating Assistance annual payment of £214 to help towards energy bills.
Scottish Child Payment
Parents with children under six can claim this benefit. However, the eligibility criteria will increase to all children under the age of 16, from November 14, 2022.
It is worth £20 weekly per child, but will go up to £25 a week from November 14 as well. Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family if you are on a low income.
Best Start Foods
The criteria for claiming this benefit are as follows:
If you or your partner are getting certain benefits
On Tax Credits
If you or your partner are pregnant
If you are the main person looking after a baby or child who's the right age for a payment
The payment is worth £18 during pregnancy and for any children between one and three-years-old. It is £36 for children under the age of one.
The payment is a benefit paid by Social Security Scotland each month on a pre-paid card to buy healthy food for children. Find out more about the Best Start Foods payment here.
Best Start Grants
This benefit is designed for parents and carers on low incomes. It is made up of three separate payments - the Pregnancy and Baby Payment is - a one-off payment of £606 for a first child or £303 for a second or later child.
The Early Learning Payment is a one-off payment of £252.50 if your child is between two and three and a half years old. The School Age Payment is a one-off payment of £252.50. You cannot get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods if you only get Child Benefit - you must still be getting one of the benefits or payments that are listed in this article.
Attendance Allowance
This payment is designed by the DWP for people over State Pension age that have a disability severe enough that you need extra help. You will be paid either £61.85 or £92.40 every week.
It can also help you stay independent in your own home longer. Find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance here.
Carer's Allowance
This benefit is to be claimed by those who spend at least 35 hours a week taking care of another person. It will be paid each four weeks, with a total cash boost of £278.80.
In Scotland there are also two additional payments of £245.70 each year as part of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement. The next payment will be in December, to qualify you need to have made a claim for Carer's Allowance on or before October 10, 2022.
Pension Credit
This benefit is for those who are claiming State Pension. The total figure is determined by a number of factors - including savings - but it could be worth up to £3,300 each year.
The benefit, delivered by the DWP, is to help with retirement costs. Other benefits of Pension Credit include:
- A free TV Licence for those over 75 (worth £159)
Council Tax Reduction (worth £1,000 to £2,000 per year)
Want Homes Discount (worth £140)
New claims for Pension Credit made before December 19, 2022 which later turn out to be successful will also qualify for the second cost of living payment of £324.
Benefit Calculators
A benefit calculator is a quick and simple way to find out if you are due any benefits from the Government. These are free, confidential and easy to use - all you have to do is enter some personal and financial details.
Find out more about benefit calculators here.
Council Tax Reductions, Discounts and Exemptions
Council Tax is paid by everybody in ten or 12 monthly instalments to their local councils. However, there are a number of ways to reduce the cost of this bill.
They include:
- If you live alone
- If you are disabled
- If you live with someone under 18 or a student
- If you are a carer
- If there are major changes to the value of your home
In most cases, reductions in your Council Tax bill could be backdated, so don’t delay making an enquiry.
TV Licence discount or refund
The rules for TV Licences were changed in 2021, meaning that everybody pays for it, including those on State Pension. However, you can avoid the £159 fee by being 75 and in receipt of Pension Credit.
People who are registered blind are entitled to a half price TV Licence and may be eligible for a refund. When someone with a severe sight impairment applies for a TV Licence they are required to submit evidence of their disability.
The most common piece of evidence for this is a blind registration letter. From this, TV Licensing may identify an overpayment, and you could be due a refund - find out more here.
Claim £252 tax break just for being married or in a civil partnership
HM Revenue and Customs have recently just announced that almost 1.8 million couples are using Marriage Allowance to save up to £252 annually in Income Tax. Marriage Allowance allows married couples or those in civil partnerships to share their personal tax allowances if one partner earns an income under their Personal Allowance threshold of £12,570 and the other is a starter, basic or intermediate rate taxpayer.
They can transfer 10 per cent of their tax-free allowance to their partner, which is £1,260 in 2023/23. This means couples can reduce the amount of tax they pay by up to £252 a year, and can backdate claims for any of the four previous tax years.
This could be worth up to a total of £1,220. Find out more about Marriage Allowance here.
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