Tag: Social Security Scotland

Working people reminded they can still qualify for Scottish benefits

Payments not just for those out of work

As many people return to their jobs following the festive break, those in part-time and full-time work have been reminded that they can qualify for Scottish Government benefits.

People in work can receive many of the payments administered by Social Security Scotland, including those designed to help low-income families.

The Scottish Government also delivers Job Start Payment – a one-off payment to help young people who haven’t been working meet the costs of starting a new job.

In Scotland, around one in three people getting Universal Credit are in work, and Universal Credit is a qualifying benefit for several other payments.

Thousands of working people get Scottish Child Payment and the other benefits which make up Social Security Scotland’s five family payments.

These consist of three Best Start Grants – Pregnancy & Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment – and Best Start Foods.

People with jobs can also qualify for Adult Disability Payment, with qualification not based on employment or income, and one-off payments including Winter Heating Payment and Funeral Support Payment.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley Anne Somerville said: ““In January there are lots of people starting new jobs or returning to work for the first time in a while and I’d urge them to check what benefits they may be eligible for.

“I’d particularly highlight the support available to young people starting in work via Job Start Payment.

“This one-off payment can make a difference with the costs of getting up and running in a new job and again we want to make sure it reaches as many eligible people as possible.

“We are helping people across Scotland through the cost-of-living crisis by committing £6.1 billion in social security benefits and payments. That’s £1.1 billion more than the Block Grant Adjustment received due to spend on comparable benefits by the UK Government.”

 Job Start payment helps with the costs of starting a new job such as paying for travel, work clothes or childcare. Eligible people receive a one-off payment of £294.70 or £471.50 if they are a main carer of any children.

It is available to those between the age of 16 to 24 who are already getting qualifying benefits and have been out of paid work for six months prior to finding a job. Care leavers can apply for a further year (up to the day before their 26th birthday) and only need to be out of work and receiving a qualifying benefit on the day of the job offer, not for the previous 6 months.

 Social Security Scotland administers 14 benefits on behalf of the Scottish Government: Social Security Scotland – Benefits

Are you missing out on benefit entitlements? Call Granton Information Centre on 0131 551 2459 or 0131 552 0458 to arrange an appointment for a benefits check – email appointments@gic.org.uk

Social Security Scotland improves the move from Child to Adult Disability Payment

SOCIAL Security Scotland has improved the way people who get Child Disability Payment move over to Adult Disability Payment.

When disability assistance was first introduced, if someone was eligible for Adult Disability Payment, it would be paid from the date their application was approved.

This meant the day they received Adult Disability Payment could be different from the day they’d previously received Child Disability Payment.

Clients told Social Security Scotland this could cause difficulty managing their finances. SSS have listened and Adult Disability Payment will now be paid on the same day as their Child Disability Payment previously was.

No matter when they’re approved for Adult Disability Payment, the client’s last Child Disability Payment will be the same amount that they’ve always received, at the time they expect to receive it. This will be followed four weeks later by their first, full Adult Disability Payment on their usual payment day. This means clients will know how much they are going to get and when they will get it.

The exception to this is if a decision is made on someone’s Adult Disability Payment application after their 19th birthday.

Applying for Adult Disability Payment

People don’t automatically move from Child Disability Payment to Adult Disability Payment. This is because someone who is eligible for one may not be eligible for the other, or they may not be eligible for the same amount of money even if they are eligible for both benefits.

People who get Child Disability Payment can apply for Adult Disability Payment from the age of 16. When a child or young person reaches age 16, they are legally responsible for their own benefits and can manage them themselves. If they are unable to do this, we can appoint someone to do it for them.

Child Disability Payment normally stops when the person reaches 18, so it’s important clients apply for Adult Disability Payment well before this time. If they don’t, their Child Disability Payment will stop.

If they apply for Adult Disability Payment before reaching age 18 and a decision has not been made before their birthday, then their Child Disability Payment can continue (until age 19).

We aim to contact people who get Child Disability Payment three times to encourage them to apply for the adult benefit.

The first time is five months before the person’s 16th birthday. We contact them twice more once they are 17. But clients don’t need to wait for a letter from us to make their Adult Disability Payment application.

There are special rules for clients who have a terminal illness. They receive the maximum Child Disability Payment award and can choose to stay on this benefit indefinitely. If they choose to move to Adult Disability Payment, we transfer them with no need for an application form and they will also get the maximum award.

Young people urged to apply for Young Carer Grant

Young carers are being urged to do something for themselves during this season of giving and get the financial support they are entitled to. Social Security Scotland is encouraging eligible people to apply for the £359.65 Young Carer Grant this December.

Young carers may look after family members, friends or relatives. Their caring role could involve supporting someone with a disability, illness or addiction; helping them with their mental health; helping or reminding them to take their medication; doing their shopping, cleaning or cooking; or translating for them, for example.

The latest figures for Young Carer Grant show that over 10,000 payments had been issued up to the end of September this year, totalling over £3.2 million, since the grant launched in Scotland in 2019.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “December is a busy and expensive time for everyone, with young carers balancing their studies and/or work alongside their vital caring roles.

“We’re urging young carers to do something for themselves this festive season and check if they could be eligible for Young Carer Grant. As the cost of living crisis continues and people feel additional financial pressures in January, this money is designed to provide some recognition for the important role of unpaid young carers and allow them to take part in the same activities as their peers.

“Young carers aged 16, 17 and 18 can get this payment of over £350 each year as long as they remain eligible. They need to apply for the Young Carer Grant each year to get the payment.”

Max, who is a young carer for her mum, dad and brother, said:

“I spent the Young Carer Grant on driving lessons so I was able to drive my dad about as part of my caring role. I also bought loads of clothes and shoes just so I could have time to go out, dress up and have a bit of time for myself. It really made a difference that I had money for myself.”

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £359.65 for young carers in Scotland.

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

People can apply for Young Carer Grant online, via a paper application form or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.

To find out more information people can visit mygov.scot/young-carer-grant

Information on other support for carers is available at mygov.scot/help-if-youre-a-carer

Winter Heating Payments begin

Social security support to help eligible people with heating costs

Money to help with heating costs is on its way to around 400,000 people on low incomes through the Scottish Government benefit Winter Heating Payment.

Winter Heating Payment is paid in batches to eligible clients, with the first payments paid this week. The majority of people will receive their payment by the end of January 2024.

This annual payment of £55.05 targets low-income households that have additional need for heat, including households with young children, disabled people and older people, providing stable, reliable support every winter.

Winter Heating Payment was first paid in winter 2022-2023 and replaces the DWP Cold Weather Payment. Unlike the DWP benefit that was reliant on the weather being sufficiently cold for a sustained period of time, Winter Heating Payment guarantees that everyone who is eligible will receive a payment every year, no matter the weather.

The majority of people eligible for Winter Heating Payment who were already getting qualifying benefits during the week of 6- 12 November will get it automatically, with no need to apply. It is paid through Social Security Scotland and people will get a letter to let them know they are eligible.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are investing around £22 million this winter through Winter Heating Payments to support 400,000 people on low incomes across the country at a time when they are struggling with the cost of living crisis and higher energy bills.

“Winter Heating Payment guarantees that everyone eligible will get  a payment every year, rather than the UK Government approach of requiring the weather being sufficiently cold for a sustained period of time.

“Our annual, reliable payment will support people on low incomes with the costs of heating their homes throughout the winter, we know it is harder for these households to spend more money to heat their homes.

“The vast majority of people will receive the payment automatically either this month or next.”

The UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments triggers a £25 payment only when the average of the mean daily temperature recorded for 7 consecutive days was equal to or below zero degrees. In contrast, the Scottish Government’s Winter Heating Payment provides reliable financial support through an automatic £55.05 payment, no matter the weather.

An individual may be eligible to receive Winter Heating Payment if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits: Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseekers Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Universal Credit and Support for Mortgage Interest.

As with the  UK Government’s Cold Weather Payments, additional qualifying criteria for some of these benefits may also need to be satisfied, for example in relation to disability premiums paid to the client or if a disabled or young child is in their household.

Minimum Income Guarantee in an independent Scotland

Enabling people to thrive and live with dignity

The latest paper in the Building a New Scotland series, Social Security in an independent Scotland, published this week, outlined how a Minimum Income Guarantee could ensure everyone can achieve a dignified standard of living.

The proposals included how a Minimum Income Guarantee could:

  • be set at a higher rate than current UK Government benefits and respond to real changes to the cost of living
  • enable all households to live with financial security
  • ensure those who are able achieve the minimum income level through fair and accessible paid work

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “With limited powers, the Scottish Government has already delivered transformative social security benefits that have made a real difference to people’s lives. Due to the policies of this government, an estimated 90,000 fewer children are expected to live in poverty this year.

“However, we want to go further and that is why we have proposed that a Minimum Income Guarantee could be introduced in an independent Scotland to ensure everyone has enough support to not only survive, but to thrive.

“The UK approach to social security has provided inadequate levels of financial support and has eroded the effectiveness of the safety net. It is only with the full economic and fiscal powers of an independent nation that we can use all the levers other governments have to tackle inequalities in Scotland.”

Social Security in an independent Scotland

social-security-independent-scotland-paper-9Download

Scots urged to use unspent Best Start Foods balances

Christmas letter will remind families to use money on card   

Hundreds of people who get the Scottish Government’s Best Start Foods benefit will receive a pre-Christmas reminder urging them to spend large balances which have built up on their cards. 

Letters will be sent by Social Security Scotland to cardholders who have accrued balances of £600 or more. 

Best Start Foods is money £19.80 every four weeks by pre-paid card during pregnancy and for any children between one and three years old. The payment increases to £39.60 from birth until the age of one. 

The card can be used to help with the cost of milk and healthy foods like fruit, vegetables and eggs as well as first infant formula. 

People who get the card need to activate it by calling 0808 196 1687 – then it is topped up every four weeks. 

However, a small number of people who get it have either never activated the card or stopped using it – meaning balances build up. 

It’s this group who are being reminded they have money to spend. 

After receiving the first of these letters, more than 100 cards have since been activated and tens of thousands of pounds spent by recipients. 

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We want to ensure people get access to every bit of financial support to which they are entitled. 

“It’s part of our approach to social security to make sure that we treat people with dignity, fairness and respect and that they’re not obstructed or ignored.

“Our message to people who get Best Start Foods is to look out their cards and check balances. It’s simple to do, either online or at cashpoints. 

“The money can be a big help to families dealing with the costs of Christmas and New Year.” 

Social Security in an independent Scotland

Plans to deliver a fairer system with more positive outcomes if Scotland becomes an independent country

Independence would give Scotland the opportunity to take a new approach to social security designed to be fairer, more dignified and more respectful according to a new paper published by Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville.

The ninth paper in the Building a New Scotland series – Social Security in an independent Scotland – sets out how the UK Government holds the majority of social security powers including low income and working age benefits. 

It evidences negative impacts of the UK Government’s current welfare policies on poverty levels, outlines the progress the Scottish Government has already made in creating a fairer system with limited powers, and demonstrates how an independent Scotland could go even further.

These include:

  • supporting and protecting everyone who needs financial help and support at any point in their lives
  • introducing early reforms to Universal Credit – removing the bedroom tax, benefit cap, two child limit, ‘rape clause’ and young parent penalty which have all been introduced by the UK Government
  • working alongside wider labour market, health and social policies to create a stronger and more dynamic economy like comparable European countries
  • stopping the rollout of changes to the delivery of reserved ill-health and disability benefits introduced as a result of the UK Government’s Health and Disability White Paper
  • moving towards a new system grounded in adequacy, such as a Minimum Income Guarantee, to ensure that everyone could have a decent level of income and live with dignity

Ms Somerville said: “With independence, we believe Scotland can do better. With limited powers, the Scottish Government has already demonstrated that things can be done differently with an approach to social security that treats people with dignity, fairness and respect.

“An estimated 90,000 fewer children are expected to live in relative and absolute poverty this year as a result of actions we have taken.

“With the powers of an independent nation, Scotland could do more to make our system fairer and move away from the UK Government’s system of benefit freezes, caps and punishment.  We could move away from the UK Government’s system that offers inadequate levels of financial support and is pushing people into poverty.

“The best-performing independent countries comparable to Scotland demonstrate that a strong social safety net is a foundation of a dynamic, innovative and productive economy, rather than a barrier to it.

“We can become a stronger, fairer and more prosperous country – this government believes that independence is the best route to getting there.”

Social Security Scotland: Support for people facing bereavement

Having to pay for a funeral can cause extra strain for people at what can be a difficult time.

That’s why, during National Grief Awareness week, we want to highlight the services and benefits available from Social Security Scotland, which may help to ease financial worry and reduce paperwork for people.

Through our Bereavement Service specially trained experienced and compassionate expert client advisers provide help to people who need to update us about benefit payments after a death.

With just one phone call, people can report the death of a family member, friend or loved one directly to one of our advisers. At that point, our adviser will take the necessary information for all payments that need to be cancelled.

Our Bereavement Service is also connected to the UK-wide ‘Tell Us Once’ scheme, which lets most government departments and local authorities know when someone dies. The system allows us to automatically follow up with any actions without the need for people to send information separately. This helps take away some of the worry people have about more administrative tasks at this upsetting time.

Our client advisers are helping make a difference to our clients at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed. A client adviser from our Bereavement Service, said: “Clients are grateful for being made aware of services like Tell Us Once which they can use to report the death once and all relevant departments will be notified.

“We make the caller aware of further assistance that may be available to them such as Funeral Support Payment or Bereavement care.

“Sometimes the caller may just want to talk about their experience of losing a loved one and we will lend a listening ear.”

Our client advisers can also signpost and help eligible people to apply for Funeral Support Payment, which helps pay towards funeral costs for people on low incomes getting certain benefits.

It can be paid either to parents and families or the funeral director who is helping to plan the funeral. In Scotland, local authorities cover the burial or cremation costs for a baby, child or young person aged 17 or under.

Since launching Funeral Support Payment in September 2019, we have approved over 32,600 applications, providing more than £37.8 million of support for people and families.

People can apply for Funeral Support Payment online, via a paper application form or by calling us free on 0800 182 2222 and asking to speak to the specially trained bereavement team.

To find out more information, people can visit mygov.scot/funeralsupportpayment

Scottish Child Payment helping families of more than 323,000 children 

Total spending on five family payments passes £596 million

The families of more than 323,000 under-16s were benefitting from Scottish Child Payment at the end of September, official statistics show. 

Figures published today show the payment of £25 per week was reaching 323,315 children – an increase of more than 7,000 compared to 30 June 2023. 

The Scottish Fiscal Commission had forecast that the average number of children receiving support in 2023/24 would be 309,000. 

Today’s statistics release also shows that the combined overall amount paid out across Social Security Scotland’s five family payments, since they launched, is more than £596 million. 

That’s made up of £458.5 million for Scottish Child Payment and £138.1 million for the rest of the five family payments – Best Start Foods and three Best Start Grants (Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment) combined. 

The average time taken to process applications has also improved across the five family payments. 

For Scottish Child Payment, the average wait was six working days in September, down from 13 working days in June. 

For Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, the average wait was four working days, down from 12 over the same period. 

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “As the First Minister has made clear, tackling child poverty is a key mission for the Scottish Government and these figures show we are reaching more of the children and young people who need our help. We’re doing it more quickly too. 

“It is estimated that Scottish Child Payment will lift around 50,000 children out of poverty in the current financial year.

“Our work with this uniquely Scottish benefit is in stark contrast with the UK Government’s approach of continued austerity, further outlined in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement last week.

“Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and our Best Start Grants provide a robust safety net and are among many actions we are taking in government to lift people out of poverty. 

“However, I would continue to encourage people to spread the word as we want all eligible people to get the help they are entitled to.”

The Scottish Government has twice increased Scottish Child Payment; first from £10 to £20 per week per child then £25 when it extended to include all eligible children under 16 in November last year. 

 The statistics are available in full here: 

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/scottish-child-payment-high-level-statistics-to-30-september-2023

https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/reporting/publications/best-start-grant-and-best-start-foods-high-level-statistics-to-30-september-2023