Social Security Scotland – Page 3 – The NEN

Social Security Scotland: Stay aware of winter heating payment scams

We’re urging people to be aware of scam text messages as most winter heating payments will be paid to people automatically. We’ll never ask for personal or financial details by text or email or ask people to reply by text or email.

Our winter heating payments helped over half a million families warm their homes last year.

Winter Heating Payment, Child Winter Heating Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment are automatic payments for almost everyone who is eligible and most people do not need to apply for these benefits.

Scam text messages are from criminals often pretending to be Social Security Scotland or another Government department. They tell people they are missing out on financial help and ask them to click a link to update their details or to apply for benefits.

We will never ask for personal or financial details by text or email or ask people to reply by text or email.

Information about our benefits is available on official channels, such as its website and social media accounts. People can also phone our helpline if they have questions.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “As we approach the winter months, Social Security Scotland will be giving valuable payments to thousands of people automatically to help them stay warm during colder weather.

“It is important that people remain alert to scam text messages and e-mails. Social Security Scotland will never ask people for personal or financial details by text or e-mail.

“If anyone is unsure if they are eligible or are worried they will not receive a payment they are eligible for, please get in touch with Social Security Scotland directly.”

Tips to identify scam messages:

be suspicious of messages asking you to send money or share personal information such as passwords or bank details
scammers try to create panic by setting a time limit or saying something frightening
stop and think before giving out information
don’t follow links in suspicious emails or download files
check phone numbers and email addresses on the official websites
use ‘contact us’ sections to access information and services

If you think you have been the victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately.

Report fraud to Police Scotland by calling 101.

Social Security Scotland offers free assistance to people making applications for benefits. More details can be found here: mygov.scot/benefits-support

Thousands of carers’ benefits transferred

Scotland’s carers getting more financial support through Social Security Scotland

Around 118,000 unpaid carers who were receiving Carer’s Allowance have had their benefit awards safely and securely transferred to Social Security Scotland’s Carer Support Payment.

Carer Support Payment began rolling out across Scotland in November 2023 to replace Carer’s Allowance delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Since the formation of Social Security Scotland in 2018, the Scottish Government has delivered more financial support for unpaid carers in Scotland under a very different social security system, rooted in dignity, fairness and respect.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement provides up to £587 a year while Young Carer Grant offers over £390 each year to carers aged 16-18 years. These payments are only available in Scotland.

Carer Support Payment has also been extended to enable more carers in full time education to access the payment.

Further improvements to carer benefits in Scotland are planned within the next six months. This includes extension of Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds and a new payment worth up to £520 a year for carers who are caring for more than one person.

Extending eligibility for financial support following the death of the cared-for person from 8 to 12 weeks is also amongst the plans.

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “We are supporting over 126,000 unpaid carers in Scotland through devolved carer benefits, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to improving social security, under a kinder system that treats people with dignity and respect.

“It was always our intention that once carers’ benefits had successfully transferred to Carer Support Payment, we’d deliver even more changes to help make a difference to carers’ lives.

“Unpaid carers make a huge contribution within our communities and I’m proud to be able to improve the financial support available to them in Scotland.”

Scotland’s Child Winter Heating Payment reaches fifth year

Almost 45,000 disabled children and young people to be supported this year

Families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people are set to receive winter heating support, as Scotland’s unique benefit marks its fifth anniversary.

Child Winter Heating Payments will be issued from next week to families caring for children with the highest disability support needs. All payments are automatic and are expected to be made by the end of October.

In total, £11.4 million is expected to be put in the pockets of families who need it the most.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I’m proud that this benefit payment – available only in Scotland – will help families of almost 45,000 disabled children and young people keep their homes warm this winter.

“Child Winter Heating Payment was introduced by the Scottish Government five years ago and is providing vital support to families facing the extra costs of caring for a disabled child or young person who needs the highest level of disability support.

“The payment represents Scotland’s commitment to supporting its most vulnerable families, providing targeted help that isn’t available elsewhere in the UK.”

Joana who works at Oaklands School in Edinburgh and who is mother to Maddie, aged 17, gets Child Disability Payment and Child Winter Heating Payment.

Maddie has various conditions including rheumatoid arthritis and autism.

She said: “You’ve got Christmas coming up, the weather is changing, bills are going up, food is going up and that little help, it just means you think right let’s put the heating up. When that Child Winter Heating payment come in it is like winning the lottery. You are so used to money going out and then it comes in. It does make such a difference, 100 per cent.”

Child Winter Heating Payment is paid automatically to the families of children and young people under 19 who receive the highest levels of disability support.

Recognising unpaid carers

New payment for people caring for more than one person

Proposals to further expand and improve the benefits available to unpaid carers in Scotland have been laid before the Scottish Parliament.

Among the changes are plans to introduce a new payment worth up to £520 annually for people who care for more than one person – benefiting an estimated 18,000 carers – and to extend eligibility for the Young Carer Grant to 19-year-olds.

This builds on previous changes following the transfer of responsibility for carer benefits from the UK Government to the Scottish Government, including the introduction of new benefits such as Carer’s Allowance Supplement.

Around 130,000 people are entitled to Scottish Government carer benefits in Scotland.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The Scottish Government recognises the immense contribution carers make to our society through caring for family, friends and neighbours.

“That is why we have made it a priority to deliver a series of improvements to better support them following the transfer of carer benefit awards from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland.

“We have a very different approach to social security in Scotland, with dignity, fairness and respect at its heart, and these changes build on previous work to help improve the lives of carers. We have already introduced Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Young Carer Grant – which are only available in Scotland – and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it.

“This is another major milestone in the process of delivering devolved social security and in building a system that better meets the needs of carers and disabled people in Scotland.”

Evaluating efforts to tackle poverty

New report highlights the impacts of Scottish policies

Scottish benefits are easing the cost-of-living burden for families according to a new evaluation.

The Scottish Centre for Social Research surveyed people in receipt of any of the Five Family Payments, a group of benefits designed to tackle poverty and to improve household finances.

Findings show the payments have a positive impact on recipients’ overall finances and have helped to reduce material deprivation and food insecurity for low-income families. The majority of Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Foods recipients agreed the payments meant they did not need foodbanks.

Feedback also shows the majority of Best Start Foods recipients, who receive a pre-paid card to purchase healthy food, reported that the card enabled their families to have healthy meals more frequently.

Other impacts include a reduction to household debt and borrowing and more children being able to undertake extra-curricular activities, like sport, music or drama.

Recipients also commented that the automatic payment system reduces worry and stress.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville met some impacted families at Brunstane Primary School in Edinburgh.

Ms Somerville said: “We want every child to have the best start in life, but we recognise that the cost of living continues to have a negative impact on families across the country.

“It is a moral imperative to offer the best support we can, and I’m pleased that this work found an array of positive, meaningful impacts.

“But we are not letting up. We know there is more to do, which is why, as an example, we are launching the new Two Child Limit Payment in March, which will benefit the families of 43,000 children next year.

“And in the face of challenging economic headwinds and cuts to the UK welfare system, I want to reassure families that our support will continue. No child, nor family, will be left behind by the Scottish Government.”

One parent, Emma Hunter from Magdalene, said: “We are so grateful for the support we received with the healthy start vouchers, school uniforms and child payment.

“It has been such a huge help in easing the financial burden of starting a family and it has made a real difference to our lives.”

Evaluation report

PIP No More: Adult Disability Payment transfer complete

Delivering a new approach to disability assistance ‘rooted in compassion’

Almost 350,000 disabled people who were getting Personal Independence Payment have had their benefit awards successfully transferred to Social Security Scotland – meaning everyone in Scotland who was receiving the benefit is now getting Adult Disability Payment.

This month marks the third anniversary of Adult Disability Payment being available across Scotland and the complete transfer represents the delivery of an entirely new approach to disability assistance based on dignity, fairness and respect.

For example, while the UK benefits agency outsources assessments to private firms, Social Security Scotland uses information from professionals who know the disabled person when making decisions, such as their GP or a support worker.

Adult Disability Payment provides money to help with the additional costs that come with being disabled or having a long-term health condition that affects someone’s life. People who are terminally ill can apply via a dedicated fast-track route.

On a visit to learning disability charity Garvald Edinburgh, Social Justice Secretary @S_A_Somerville confirmed everyone in Scotland who was getting Personal Independence Payment is now receiving @scotgov's Adult Disability Payment. pic.twitter.com/DOhHvTSXlo
— Social Security Scotland (@SocSecScot) August 28, 2025

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, said: “The transfer to Adult Disability Payment from PIP was a monumental challenge that we’ve delivered for people across Scotland.

“Nearly 350,000 individuals had their data safely and securely moved from the DWP’s systems to ours without having to make a new application for assistance. We also ensured there was no break in their payments.

“This month marks three years since Adult Disability Payment was available across Scotland, the achievement of our ambitious plan to deliver an entirely new approach to disability assistance rooted in compassion.

“That approach will continue to be at the heart of social security in Scotland. That is why I can assure people the Scottish Government will not cut Adult Disability Payment. We will never seek to balance the books on the backs of disabled people.

“While the UK Government has caused so much anxiety for disabled people in recent months, that is not an approach the Scottish Government will take. We will ensure disabled people will get the support they are entitled to and be treated with dignity, fairness and respect.”

CEO of learning disability charity Garvald Edinburgh, Colum Porter, said: “It is good news that all adults in Scotland have now moved to Adult Disability Payment and will be supported by a benefits system built on dignity, fairness and respect.

“Many people do not understand how expensive it is to be disabled. Disabled adults and their carers can face many additional costs, and it is vital they get the financial support they need.

“Applying for benefits can be daunting and many people have had difficult experiences applying for PIP.”

For more information on Adult Disability Payment visit www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

The most recently published statistics show over 470,000 people in Scotland were getting Adult Disability Payment in April, including around 150,000 new applicants.

Millions to receive benefit payments ahead of August bank holiday

Change to benefits payment date for millions of people will help them with their financial planning and providing peace of mind for those on low incomes.
It comes ahead of the new school year, which will allow families and carers to plan their spending with confidence, knowing their support is already in place.
This proactive measure demonstrates the Government’s commitment through its Plan for Change to raising living standards, breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring growth is felt by everyone, everywhere.
Applies across the entire United Kingdom (Scotland follows the same principle despite different bank holiday arrangements).

Millions of people will receive their essential financial support before the August bank holiday weekend, as the Government has confirmed that benefit payments will be brought forward to Friday 22 August.

The early payment arrangement will apply to all major benefits including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, State Pension, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, and Disability Living Allowance, ensuring that payments originally scheduled for the weekend of 23-25 August reach recipients on time.

This proactive measure will provide financial certainty for families as they prepare for the new school year, allowing parents and carers to plan their spending with confidence knowing their support is already in place during what can be an expensive time for households.

Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said: “We know how much families rely on these payments, and by bringing them forward ahead of the bank holiday we’re ensuring no one has to worry about whether their support will be there when they need it most.

“This is especially important ahead of the new school year – no family should have to choose between buying school supplies and putting food on the table.

“This is what our Plan for Change is all about – putting working families and the most vulnerable first and ensuring every family has the security they need to plan for the future.”

The early payment policy ensures recipients receive their funds before banks and government offices close for the holiday weekend, maintaining the continuity of support that millions depend upon.