Payment warning to people making a new claim for devolved disability benefits in Scotland
By the end of this year, Social Security Scotland will administer and deliver 18 payments, including the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment, which has now replaced Winter Fuel Payments north of the border.
However, Scotland's devolved welfare system is urging people 'not to pay for assistance' after reporting that 'a number of third-party organisations are asking for a fee to help people apply for disability benefits on their behalf'. Social Security Scotland added: 'We strongly advise people not to use these companies.'
This warning is crucial for people making a new claim for Adult, Child, or Pension Age Disability Payment, which can be done for free online or over the phone to Social Security Scotland. If you do need help completing an application form, free help is available from VoiceAbility.
The Scottish Government funds VoiceAbility to deliver a free, independent advocacy service to support disabled people.
If you need an advocate, you should:
contact Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222
ask them to refer you to the Independent Advocacy Service
Several organisations, including Citizen's Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland, offer free, impartial advice to people applying for benefits delivered in Scotland.
Social Security Scotland said; 'We want people to get every penny of the money they are entitled to and offer free assistance to anyone applying for our disability benefits.
'We can help people apply over the phone, online or in person. We can also collect information from doctors and other people who know how the person's condition impacts them to support their application.'
Benefits and payments only available in Scotland
Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments with direct links to the dedicated pages on the Social Security Scotland website here.
Winter Heating Payment - £59.75 annual payment
This annual payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP in 2023 and will be worth £59.75 during winter 2025/26. 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 - £255.80 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 £255.80 in winter 2025/26. This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - find out more here.
Just remember, Adult Disability Payment will fully replace PIP by Spring this year so it's included here as there are still people in receipt of the DWP benefits and intended as information only.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - between £100 and £305.10 annual payment
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will help people of State Pension age in receipt of means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit with higher energy bills during the colder months. It replaces Winter Fuel payments and for winter 2025/26, all pensioners in Scotland will receive a minimum of £100 - find out more here.
People aged between 66 and 79 on a qualifying benefit will receive £203. 40 (lower rate)
People aged 80 and over on a qualifying benefit will receive £305.10 (higher rate)
Scottish Child Payment - £27.15 weekly payment
This will be a payment of £27.15 per week, per child from April - £108.60 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.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child) - £767.50
This is a one-off payment of up to £767.50 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 - £383.75
The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be worth £383.75 in 2025.26 - find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - £319.80
This is a one-off payment of £319.80 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 - £319.80
This is a one-off payment of £319.80 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 2025/26 weekly payment rates are:
Higher rate - £10.80
Lower rate - £5.40
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 2025/26:
Standard rate: £1,279.15
Lower rate: £156.10
Medical device removal rate: £25.80
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: £511.65
Standard rate: £319.80
Child Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks
This is extra money - up to the value of £749 every four weeks in 2025/26 - 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.
The 2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Lower care award: £29.20
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Adult Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks
This is extra money - worth between £116.80 and £749.80 every four weeks - 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.
2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Pension Age Disability Payment - up to £441 every four weeks
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland. It will replace Attendance Allowance for existing claimants by the end of 2025.
People living in Scotland-only will receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week - the same rate as Attendance Allowance. it will be paid every four weeks - £295.60, or £441.60 per pay period.
Pension Age Disability Payment will 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.
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - up to £749 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.
2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Lower care award: £29.20
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Young Carer Grant - £390.25 annual payment
This is an annual payment of £390.25 for people 16, 17 or 18 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's Allowance Supplement - £293.50 paid twice a year
This is an automatic payment of £293.50 made twice a year to people who get Carer's Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
The first payment of 2025 will be made in June and the next in December - find out more here.
Carer Support Payment - £83.30 weekly payment
Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer's Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and will be worth £83.30 each week, some £333.20 every four week pay period. Full details about the new benefit can be found here.
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