Nearly one million people have already received payments through Social Security Scotland, which now runs a growing number of benefits not available elsewhere in the UK.
Nearly one million people have already received payments through Social Security Scotland, which now runs a growing number of benefits not available elsewhere in the UK.(Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
More than 960,000 people across Scotland received financial support through 17 devolved benefits during the last financial year. Payments delivered by Social Security Scotland include help for low-income families, pensioners, young people starting work and unpaid carers.
Financial support is also available for people with disabilities, long-term health conditions and those who are terminally ill, as well as help towards heating costs and funeral expenses. With new benefit rates now in force for the 2026/27 financial year, households are being urged to check whether they could be missing out on extra financial support.
Many people fail to claim benefits they are entitled to, even though eligibility can be checked quickly, confidentially and free of charge using an online benefits calculator.
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More than 94,000 unpaid carers started receiving an extra payment last month. Letters have been isssued to all claimants explaining how the bi-annual Carer’s Allowance Supplement has now been replaced with the Scottish Carer Supplement.
The Scottish Government said the change means carers will receive the extra support more consistently and regularly. Payments of £11.70 are issued automatically every four weeks, which means nobody needs to claim the new benefit.
The payment will provide unpaid carers with an extra £609.30 over the 2026/27 financial year. Thai is the same amount of money that would have been issued through Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
Below is the full list of devolved benefits and payments available only to people living in Scotland.
Devolved benefits and payment rates 2026/27
Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments in Scotland. The full list of new payment rates can be found on GOV.SCOT.
Adult Disability Payment – up to £778 every four weeks
This is extra money – worth between £121.20 and £778.40 every four weeks in 2026/27 – to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here.
Weekly payment rates:
Daily living
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Pension Age Disability Payment – up to £458 every four weeks
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced all new and existing claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland.
People living in Scotland-only will receive either £76.70 or £114.60 each week in 2026/27 – the same rate as Attendance Allowance. It will be paid every four weeks – £306.80, or £458.40 per pay period.
Pension Age Disability Payment can support older people who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. Find out more about the new payment here.
Child Disability Payment – up to £778 every four weeks
This is extra money – up to the value of £778.40 every four weeks in 2026/27 – to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP – find out more here.
Weekly payment rates:
Daily living
- Lower care award: £30.30
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance – up to £778 every four weeks
This is a closed benefit, which means nobody can apply for it and is only for pensioners on Disability Living Allowance transferring from the DWP – find out more here.
Weekly payment rates:
Daily living
- Lower care award: £30.30
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Young Carer Grant – £405.10 annual payment
This annual payment will be worth £405.10 in 2026/27 for youngsters aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more – find out more here.
Carer Support Payment – £86.45 weekly payment
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and will be worth £86.45 each week from April, some £345.80 every four week pay period. Full details about the benefit can be found here.
Winter Heating Payment – £62.00 annual payment
This annual payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP in 2023 and will be worth £62.00 in winter 2026/27. It is designed to help people on a low income or benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter – find out more here.
Child Winter Heating Payment – £265.50 annual payment
This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and will be worth £265.50 in winter 2026/27.
This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment – find out more here.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – between £105.55 and £316.70 annual payment
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is designed to help people of State Pension age with higher energy bills during the colder months. It replaces Winter Fuel payments for pensioners with a Scottish postcode.
Winter 2026/27 payment rates:
- Pensioners in residential care – £105.55
- Single pensioners aged between 66 and 79 – £211.15
- Single pensioners aged 80 and over – £316.70
- Pensioner couples aged between 66 and 79 – £105.55
- Pensioner couples aged 80 and over – £158.35
Scottish Child Payment – £28.20 weekly payment
This is a payment of £28.20 per week, per child – £112.80 every four weeks – to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
This is a separate payment to Child Benefit – delivered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – for families in Scotland only.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child) – £796.65
This is a one-off payment of up to £796.65 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Grant – Pregnancy and Baby Payment – £398.35
The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be worth £398.35 in 2026/27 – find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – £331.95
This is a one-off payment of £331.95 in 2026/27 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment – £331.95
This is a one-off payment of £331.95 in 2026/27 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits – find out more here.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food – find out more here.
The weekly payment rates for 2026/27 are:
- Higher rate – £11.20
- Lower rate – £5.60
Funeral Support Payment
This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 – find out more here.
Payment rates:
- Higher rate: £1,327.75
- Lower rate: £162.05
- Medical device removal rate: £26.80
Job Start Payment
This is a one-off payment for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job – find out more here.
Payment rates:
- Higher rate: £531.10
- Standard rate: £331.95
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