Devolved benefits and payments only available to…

Devolved benefits and payments only available to people in Scotland set to increase next month

The Scottish Government has announced that 12 devolved benefits and payments will rise by 10.1 per cent next month, backed by an investment of around £430million. One benefit that will not be increasing in April is the Scottish Child Payment, which has already gone up by 150 per cent in 2022 to £25 per eligible child under 16 each week.

A total of 13 Scottish Government benefits are now being delivered through Social Security Scotland, seven of which are only available to people living north of the border. It’s also worth noting that Adult Disability Payment has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for new claimants in Scotland.

This follows on from the successful rollout of Child Disability Payment, which replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people. More than 319,000 existing PIP claimants are being transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the devolved welfare system, in a phased approach which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Both these payments will match the uprating applied to PIP and DLA for Child by the DWP to prevent a two-tier welfare system. Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “We are committing £5.2billion for social security benefits in 2023-24, providing support to more than one million people in Scotland.

“This is £776 million above the level of funding we are forecast to receive from the UK Government for social security through Block Grant Adjustments.” He continued: “The choices we have taken in our Budget represent a significant investment in people and are key to our national mission to tackle child poverty.

“They will help low-income families with their living costs, support people to heat their homes in winter, and enable disabled people to live full and independent lives. This is money that will go directly to people who need it the most.”

Scottish benefits and payments from April 1

Adult Disability Payment

Daily Living Component (weekly amounts shown)

Standard: £68.10 (from £61.85)
Enhanced: £101.75 (from £92.40)

Mobility Component (weekly amounts shown)

Standard: £26.90 (from £24.45)
Enhanced: £71.00 (from £64.50)

Child Disability Payment

Care Component (weekly amounts shown)

Lowest: £26.90 (from £24.45)
Middle: £68.10 (from £61.85)
Highest: £101.75 (from £92.40)

Mobility component (weekly amounts shown)

Lower: £26.90 (from £24.45)
Higher: £71.00 (from £64.50)

Winter Heating Payment 2023/24

£55.05 (from £50)

Young Carer Grant

£359.65 (from £326.65)

Child Winter Hearing Assistance 2023/24

£235.70 (from £214.10)

Carer’s Allowance Supplement

£270.50 (from £245.70)

Job Start Payment

£294.70 (from £267.65)
£471.50 (from £428.25) - if you're the main carer of any children

Funeral Support Payment

Lower rate: £143.85 (from £130.65)
Higher rate: £1,178.75 (from £1,070.60)

Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - will be uprated by 10.1%
Best Start Grant School Age Payment - will be uprated by 10.1%
Best Start Foods - will be uprated by 10.1%
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - will be uprated by 10.1%

Scottish Child Payment was increased to £25 per eligible child per week in November 2022.

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