Social security support can make a difference to lives
From Shetland to the Borders, people across Scotland are being urged to check if they are eligible for financial support.
Social Security Scotland helped over 960,000 people receive the money they were entitled to in financial year 2024/25.
The organisation now delivers 17 benefit payments, including support for families on low incomes, disabled people, pensioners, young people looking for work and unpaid carers. There is also financial help for heating homes and contributing towards the cost of a funeral.
Amongst the payments is Scottish Child Payment, which is only available in Scotland. Families who receive Universal Credit, or other qualifying benefits, may be entitled to a weekly payment of £27.15 for every eligible child under 16 years of age. There is also no limit on the number of children who can benefit.
Financial support is also available for disabled people, those who have long-term health conditions or are terminally ill.
Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment can help cover the extra costs disabled people face. Pension Age Disability Payment replaces Attendance Allowance in Scotland and can support disabled people aged 66 and over who need help looking after themselves or supervision to stay safe with a weekly payment of up to £110.40 a week.
Scotland’s unpaid carers receive more support than anywhere else in the UK. Carer Support Payment, a payment of £83.30 per week, has replaced Carer’s Allowance with more carers in full time education able to access it. Further improvements for carers, including new extra support for those caring for more than one person, will come into effect in March 2026.
Young people aged 16-24 who have been out of work for at least six months and receiving a low-income benefit may be able to get Job Start Payment. It is a one-off payment of £319.80 to help cover the cost of starting a new job.
People are urged to check if they can get social security support and can access an online benefit calculator to help them to do this. Many are available online, are free, and can provide more detail on the benefits available to an individual and how to apply.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “We know that many people are feeling the strain right now – especially after Christmas – and we don’t want anyone to miss out on the support they’re entitled to.
“That’s why we are investing in the people of Scotland with social security when they need it most. These payments can make a real difference to everyday lives, whether it’s helping with heating costs, caring responsibilities, enabling someone to be more independent or with raising a family.
“Many of our payments are available for people in and out of work, for example Adult Disability Payment is available no matter whether someone is in work or has savings. Social security is a public service that anyone may need at any point in their life. I urge people to check if they are eligible and get the help they are entitled to.”
Rebecca Fagan, Benefit and Welfare Policy Executive at Advice Direct Scotland, added: “Every year, millions of pounds worth of vital benefits go unclaimed because people are unaware of what they may be entitled to.
“Sometimes people just assume they won’t qualify.
“At a time when many households are under significant financial pressure, it is more important than ever that people check what support is available to them.
“At Advice Direct Scotland, we see first-hand the essential support provided to people across the country through every stage of life by Social Security Scotland benefits.
“Our trusted online benefits calculator – at www.benefits.advice.scot – is a simple, confidential way to get an accurate picture of what you are entitled to.
“This type of calculator can help people make informed decisions, boost household income and act as a vital first step in accessing advice and support before problems escalate.
“Our skilled advisers are also here to help people find out what they can do to claim all the benefits that they are entitled to.
“Our advice.scot team can be reached on 0808 800 9060 or via www.advice.scot.”
The number of people helped by Social Security Scotland in financial year 2024/25 is 962,525. A full report can be found at:
Top tips for avoiding festive conflict from leading relationship support charity
The festive period is supposed to be full of goodwill and kindness, but what happens when it stops being merry? For many, Christmas can be extremely fraught, often resulting in conflict, with stress, financial worries and the pressures of expectation creating strain on relationships.
Relationships Scotland, the largest provider of relationship support in the country, is offering advice to families and couples looking for a more peaceful Christmas. They say communication is key but don’t be afraid to seek help if everything becomes too much.
Stuart Valentine, Chief Executive of Relationships Scotlandsaid: “Many people are at risk of setting high expectations of what Christmas should be like, but sadly for some the reality is far from magical.
“Financial pressure is one of the biggest sources of stress at this time of year, and this can very quickly manifest itself into conflict and relationship turmoil.
“Our advice to families this Christmas is to focus on spending good quality time with your loved ones and don’t get into debt in the hope of having the perfect Christmas. If things do get too much, always remember that support is available, with relationship counselling and family mediation available across the country.”
Relationships Scotland is offering some top tips to look after your mental health during the festive period:
Set boundaries with family
There can be a lot of pressure to see every member of your family at Christmas time. However, it is important to set boundaries to ensure you have a happy Christmas. If you only feel comfortable spending 30 minutes with your parents or in-laws, set that boundary and stick to it.
Don’t compare yourself to social media
It is so easy to see Christmas content on social media platforms and feel overwhelmed by these expectations.
Extravagant door decorations, festive tablescapes can be beautiful but these are costly and unnecessary. When you look back at your Christmas memories, it is not the decorations you remember, it’s the fun and laughter.
Do what feels right for you
Christmas can be anything you want it to be. Although the traditional turkey and all the trimmings is lovely, cooking can be a stressful experience and not to everyone’s taste.
Why not do something out of the norm that makes you happy? Chuck some pizzas in the oven, order a Chinese takeaway, or graze on a cheeseboard.
Relationships Scotland’s unique network of 21 Member Services operates in communities all over Scotland, from the Borders to Shetland and the Western Isles, ensuring it is able to meet the needs of families across the country.
It provides high quality, specialist support services, working with children, young people, couples, individuals and families to help reduce conflict, improve communication and ensure that people are supported to manage times of relationship crisis and breakdown.
Anyone in Scotland who needs additional support to apply for benefits can receive free help to complete their applications.
There are several options available for people who need support:
Social Security Scotland’s Client Advisers can help people by talking to them by phone or through webchat.
We can support people to apply over the phone on 0800 182 2222 or via webchat.
People can also get help in their communities from our team of local advisers.
In addition, the Scottish Government funds an independent advocacy service to deliver free advice and support to disabled people applying for benefits.
Organisations including Citizens Advice Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Age Scotland and local authority welfare rights teams can also help.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I urge everyone to avoid any company asking people for money to help them apply for benefits. Free support is readily available from Social Security Scotland and several organisations.
“People should get every penny of the vital support we are delivering to help them live with dignity. Companies charging fees to make benefit applications are exploiting people and taking money from those who need it most.”
Derek Mitchell, CEO of Citizens Advice Scotland said:“Our advisers in local Citizens Advice Bureaus across Scotland provide free and confidential advice expert advice that gets money back in people’s pockets.
“Whether you need that face to face, over the phone or online, advisers based in local communities will work with you and make sure you get all the support you need.
“No one should have to pay for advice to get the social security payments they’re entitled to. Every penny of the nearly £170 million we secured for people last year, stayed with them.”
We are excited to share a delicious community meal with you today. We do our best to have a variety of options, including vegetarian and often a delicious pudding. What’s on the menu today:
Tomato and root veg soup Fish pie with veg Pea and lemon bites Chocolate and coconut slice
Please check the board or ask our volunteers about allergens.
And just a heads-up, our food is served until it runs out! Do come along and enjoy.
Research shows UK’s growing trend towards batch cooking with a third of us embracing the ‘Meal Prep’ revolution
TV personality and chef Matt Tebbutt has joined forces with ScottishPower to help families enjoy hearty, home-cooked meals this winter while saving money on their energy bills as more and more of us embrace weekend ‘meal prep’.
The partnership with the celebrity chef comes as new research commissioned by ScottishPower reveals that more than a third of us (39%) now prefer to batch cook at weekends rather than to traditionally prepare meals from scratch every evening.
This ‘Weekend Kitchen’ research commissioned by ScottishPower through Censuswide comes as more than 500,000 ScottishPower customers sign up for Half Price Weekends to pay less for their weekend electricity.
To help households make the most of the savings, Tebbutt has created a series of winter warmers and family favourites – including a rich Vegetable Tagine, spicy Chipotle Chicken Tacos, and Turkey Wontons – all designed for batch cooking during the cheaper weekend energy window.
“As someone who’s often juggling a busy schedule, I know how valuable it is to meal prep,” said Matt Tebbutt.“These recipes for ScottishPower’s Half-Price Weekends are perfect for batch cooking, meaning families can enjoy delicious, comforting meals through the week while making the most of the discounted weekend hours.”
But it’s not just cooking habits that are changing. The same research found that weekend chores split opinion across the UK:
Two-thirds (66%) of Brits surveyed said that they would prefer to complete their weekend to-do list for half the price than drag chores into the next week and pay full price.
One in three (35%) Brits would rather spend an hour ironing rather than having lunch with their in‑laws.
Over half (55%) even said they’d prefer tackling the laundry to dealing with surprise guests.
Andrew Ward, Chief Executive of ScottishPower’s Customer Business, added: “Our new research shows just how much people value getting household jobs done at the weekend. That’s why Half‑Price Weekends, part of our Power Saver initiative, make it easier and cheaper for customers to cook and clean – at half the usual electricity cost.
“With these delicious recipes from Matt Tebbutt, we’re going one step further to provide batch cooking and meal prep inspiration for the week ahead. Taking the pressure off during the week, at the weekend our customers are rewarded with time and savings on their electricity while helping us balance demands on the grid.”
Best known for hosting several TV cookery shows, Matt’s approachable style and love of hearty, seasonal dishes make him the perfect partner for ScottishPower’s ‘Weekend Kitchen’ winter energy-saving push, featuring a range of recipes and top tips to help households maximise their time and money.
By signing up to ScottishPower’s Half-Price Weekends, households can tackle weekend tasks while paying just half the standard electricity unit rate every Saturday and Sunday, between 11am and 4pm.
By encouraging households to shift more of their energy use to off-peak hours, the Half-Price Weekends initiative helps balance demand on ScottishPower’s electricity grid and reduce household bills. More than 500,000 ScottishPower customers have already signed up to pay less for their weekend electricity with over £10 million collectively saved.
Christmas is often portrayed as a season of wall-to-wall joy and celebration. But for those of us who have lost loved ones, this season can sometimes feel heavy and complicated.
Our CEO Mark reflects on his own journey with grief at this time of year and offers tips for those who may be struggling during the holidays.
The funding will create 350,000 new workplace opportunities designed to support young people into employment.
Hundreds of thousands more young people on Universal Credit to benefit from dedicated support.
Guaranteed jobs scheme to roll out in areas with some of the highest need from Spring 2026.
Almost one million young people will benefit from learning or employment opportunities as a result of a major £820 million funding package.
Thanks to the funding, 350,000 new training or workplace opportunities in sectors including construction, health and social care and hospitality will be provided to young people on Universal Credit to help them develop on the job skills, employer networks, and CV and interview coaching – breaking down barriers to employment and ensuring every young person has the chance to reach their potential.
In total, 900,000 young people on Universal Credit and looking for work will also benefit from a dedicated work support session, followed by four additional weeks of intensive support.
They will be referred to one of up to six pathways by their work coach: work, work experience, apprenticeship, wider training, learning or a workplace training programme with a guaranteed interview, designed in partnership with employers.
The investment will provide a springboard to a better future for close to a million young people, giving them the chance to gain crucial skills and support to find a job with long term prospects.
As part of this training, young people will receive six weeks of training, work experience, and a guaranteed job interview, giving young people their first foot in the door towards meaningful employment, boosting their prospects and supporting a stronger economy as part of our Plan for Change.
55,000 young people also stand to gain from a government-backed guaranteed job, which will begin roll-out from Spring 2026 in areas with some of the highest need in Great Britain. These regions are:
Birmingham & Solihull
East Midlands
Greater Manchester
Hertfordshire & Essex
Central & East Scotland
Southwest & Southeast Wales
More than 1,000 young people are expected to start a job in the first six months alone, with local partners and employers to play a key role in supporting young people as they transition into meaningful employment with fully funded wages and wraparound support for young people.
Alongside this, Youth Hubs – centres where young people can receive vital help to get them back on track – will be expanded to every local area of Great Britain, bringing the total to over 360. This will ensure young people up and down the country can access the lifechanging support Youth Hubs offer, such as CV advice, skills training, mental health support, housing advice, and careers guidance.
There is an expectation that young people will take up the opportunities they are offered, and sanctions to benefits could be applied for those who don’t engage with the offered support without good reason.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, said: “Every young person deserves a fair chance to succeed. When given the right support and opportunities, they will grasp them.
“That’s why we are introducing a range of reforms to help young people take that vital step into the workplace or training and to go on and make something of their lives.
“This funding is a downpayment on young people’s futures and the future of the country, creating real pathways into good jobs and providing work experience, skills training and guaranteed employment.”
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “Too many young people fall out of education unnoticed, crippling their life changes and denting the economy.
“Smarter data and early-warning tools will change that – helping us to spot risks sooner, step in faster, and keep learners on track through our Plan for Change.
“With these ambitious measures, we can break down barriers to opportunity to make sure every young person gets the support they deserve.”
Recent data shows that almost one million young people are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), a 26% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Today’s announcement represents a major intervention to reverse this trend and ensure no young person is left behind.
It builds on a wide range of measures the Government is bringing forward to support young people, including expanded funding for youth trailblazers, and a major investigation spearheaded by Alan Milburn into the barriers preventing the young from accessing work.
Earlier intervention is being prioritised, with a £34 million investment to make it easier to identify young people who need support before they drop out of the system. This includes a new Risk of NEET indicator tool, giving local areas more accurate insights to target support where it’s needed most.
The Government will also invest in further education attendance monitoring and provide targeted support for young people in state-funded alternative provision schools, helping them secure valuable work experience.
To ensure young people transition effectively from school into post-16 education or training, we are working with schools and piloting automatic enrolment with further education providers for young people without a place.
As announced by the Chancellor, the Government has committed to delivering a Jobs Guarantee for 18 to 21-year-olds who have been searching for work whilst in receipt of Universal Credit for 18 months.
The initiative will provide 25 hours/week of fully subsidised six-month paid work to every eligible 18- to 21-year-old who has been on Universal Credit and looking for work for 18 months. The young people will be paid at the relevant minimum wage and also receive fully funded wrap around support.
The Government is finalising its National Youth Strategy, shaped by insights from over 14,000 young people, that will set out a long-term vision for youth policy across government.
Laura-Jane Rawlings MBE, CEO & Founder, Youth Employment UK: “The Youth Guarantee is a hugely important step forward and reflects many of the recommendations we have championed through our work.
“More than 8,000 young people took part in our 2025 Youth Voice Census, and the message was clear: they value work experience, skills development and local support, but too often cannot access it.
“This package – from the Youth Guarantee Gateway and expanded Youth Hubs to additional work experience, SWAPs and apprenticeships – represents the most focused investment in tackling youth unemployment we have seen in many years.
“We particularly welcome the commitment to early support, personalised pathways and strong local partnerships. We look forward to working closely with the government, Mayors, local areas and employers to ensure delivery reaches every young person, especially those facing the highest barriers. Together, we can make this Guarantee a meaningful reality for all.”
Barry Fletcher, CEO at Youth Futures Foundation said: “Youth Futures Foundation welcomes the Government’s focus and investment in tackling the growing, stubborn challenge of youth unemployment and inactivity.
“Today’s measures present an ambitious, comprehensive package to reform the system and support more young people into earning or learning.
“Crucially, reforms like the Jobs Guarantee are grounded in the evidence of what works, especially for marginalised young people. This will be vital to ensure a better future for young people and drive long-term economic prosperity.”
Naomi Clayton, CEO, Institute for Employment Studies, said: “With one in eight young people out of work and not in education and training, and the lasting scarring effects that can have, we’re pleased to see the government’s reforms to support more young people.
“We welcome the dedicated support being introduced through the Youth Guarantee Gateway to help prevent young people becoming long-term unemployed, alongside broader preventative measures to make it easier to identify young people who need support. We also welcome the wraparound support that will be provided to long-term unemployed young people as part of the Jobs Guarantee.
“Supporting young people to access meaningful work experience, training opportunities and good jobs will help secure a brighter future for a generation, their communities and the economy.”
Richard Rigby, Head of UK Government Affairs at The King’s Trust said: “At The King’s Trust, we know that when you match young people’s potential with opportunity, they can transform their own lives. This Youth Guarantee is a crucial step towards unlocking that potential.
“Increasing training and work experience opportunities, alongside a guaranteed job scheme for the long-term unemployed, will help the young people we support in our centres each day to start overcoming the barriers they face, and take their first steps into work.
“If we get this right, we can transform the futures of young people out of work across the UK, and build a healthier, wealthier society.”
Neil Morrison, HR Director at Severn Trent said: “Giving a young person that first opportunity can be game changing, so we’re fully supportive of government’s Youth Guarantee.
“At Severn Trent we’re tackling youth unemployment head on, and we’re giving young people real chances to grow and creating opportunities that unlock potential and true talent. We look forward to working together on this, and the role business can play in giving the next generation the very best start.”
Susannah Hardyman, CEO of Impetus, said: “We are delighted that the Government has chosen to invest in the futures of young people.
“With hundreds of thousands of young people neither earning nor learning, and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds twice as likely to be NEET as their better off peers, this Youth Guarantee is much-needed to ensure everyone aged 16-24 gets the support they need to succeed, whether that’s a work placement, work experience or training.
“Expanding Youth Hubs across the country is a particularly encouraging move, especially as they are a place where young people can access support even if they are not currently claiming Universal Credit.
“As our Blueprint for a Youth Hub research found, a culture of hospitality enables Youth Hubs to be an easy front door for young people to start accessing the opportunities they need for a fulfilling life.”
Rain Newton-Smith, CBI Chief Executive, said: “There is a moral and economic imperative for government and businesses to work together to support more young people into training and work.
“These announcements will allow more young people to gain the vital experience that only work can provide.”
Dr Emily Andrews, Director of Policy and Research at the Learning and Work Institute, said: “With nearly one million young people neither earning nor learning, we welcome today’s announcements to tackle the current waste of potential and boost our future workforce.
“Building on our long-standing call for a Youth Guarantee, we are pleased to see a more comprehensive offer developing, with a range of new opportunities for young people to access experience and training in the workplace.
“Crucially, the national system-level offer is being balanced by more place-based approaches, including Trailblazers and the continued expansion of youth hubs to reach young people outside the benefits system.
“We will continue to work with partners on the delivery and implementation of this package at a national, regional and local level, to make the most of these opportunities.”
Debbie Cook, EFL’s Director of Community said: “From employment, mentoring and education programmes to sport and wellbeing initiatives, EFL Football Clubs and their charities are deeply embedded in their communities, empowering young people to unlock their potential and thrive.
“Through the Youth Guarantee, we look forward to maximising opportunities for young people via new employment hubs in EFL communities, ensuring they can access guaranteed pathways into work, training, and skills development.”
Patrick Milnes, Head of People and Work Policy, at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The number of young people who are not in education, employment or training is at its highest level for a decade.
“BCC research also shows that 75% of businesses are struggling to recruit skilled workers, so it is good to see the government taking action with an ambitious plan to get young people into work.
“Expanding Youth Hubs and investing in the Jobs Guarantee will help young people gain the skills and experience needed to succeed in the workplace. Our network of 51 Chambers of Commerce across the UK stands ready to help government deliver the Youth Guarantee in full.
“Ensuing young people can access fulfilling careers and businesses can find the talent they need are vital to unlocking growth.”
Tracey Collins, Director of Emerging Talent and Social Impact at Kier, said: “At Kier, we are committed to providing opportunities for young people and bring emerging talent into construction through hundreds of work experience and apprenticeship positions every year.
“It’s important that these opportunities are open to everyone, regardless of background or history, as every young person deserves the chance to flourish.
“To support this, we are delivering a number of initiatives to make Kier accessible to underrepresented groups including a pilot project with the Youth Futures Foundation as well as through our Kierriculum schools’ engagement programme.
“We believe that the Youth Guarantee will further strengthen this activity and we are proud to support the government’s work to collectively reduce long-term youth unemployment and help them reach a better future.”
The targeted support for young people at particular risk of becoming NEET to secure work experience will focus on pupils in state-funded Alternative Provision settings.
Alternative Provision refers to education provided outside mainstream or special schools for children who cannot attend a regular school—often due to exclusion, health needs, or other circumstances
Breakfast, showers, games & four Christmas dinner servings!
