Resources

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs.

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

To claim you must be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17).

Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have.

Child Disability Payment replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people living in Scotland. 

You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a disabled child under 16. The disability can be mental or physical. 

You can also apply for Child Disability Payment if the disabled child does not have a diagnosis. 

Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life.

You must be between 16 and state pension age to apply.

The amount you get depends on how your condition affects your ability to do everyday activities and get around.

It does not matter if you're working or not. Your income and savings are not taken into account.

Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you’re a carer. You can get paid £81.90 a week if you’re eligible.

You cannot get Carer Support Payment and Carer's Allowance at the same time.

Carer's Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for people in Scotland who get Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on a particular date.

Carer's Allowance Supplement is paid 2 times a year and is around £288.

If you're due to get a payment, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made.

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 for young carers in Scotland.

To be able to get Young Carer Grant, you must be 16, 17 or 18 years old.

You must have been caring for 1, 2 or 3 people for an average of 16 hours a week for at least the last 3 months.

If you care for more than one person, you can combine the hours of the people you care for to average 16 hours a week.

Child Winter Heating Payment used to be called Child Winter Heating Assistance.

It’s a payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. 

It’s paid once a year. The payment for winter 2024-2025 is £251.50.

Some people in Scotland get a single payment during winter called Winter Heating Payment.

Winter Heating Payment will be paid from December 2024 and will be £58.75.

You will get Winter Heating Payment automatically if you get certain benefits.

The Warm Home Discount Scheme is a one-off £150 discount off your electricity bill.

If you’re eligible, your electricity supplier will apply the discount to your bill. The money is not paid to you.

You’ll need to apply directly to your energy supplier.

Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family.

It's a weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for every child you look after who's under 16 years of age.