Scottish social security benefits

Author: Camilla Kidner

PDF Published: Thursday 31 Oct 2019 (SB 19-68)

Expand
Overview
Report

Hide

Hide

Overview
Report
- Executive Summary
- Scottish social security: 2017 to 2025
- Universal credit Scottish Choices
  - Scottish Choices and APAs
  - Take-up of Scottish Choices
  - Cost of Scottish Choices
  - Review of Scottish Choices
  - Further universal credit flexibilities
- Carer's allowance supplement
  - Amount of carer's allowance supplement provided
  - Eligibility for carer's allowance supplement
  - No application is necessary
  - Challenging a decision on carer's allowance supplement
  - Carer's allowance supplement spend and caseload
- Young carer grant
  - Amount of young carer grant provided
  - Eligibility for the young carer grant
    
    Type of care provided
    
    Qualifying benefits for the young carer grant
    
    Residence requirements for the young carer grant
  - When an application for the young carer grant can be made
  - How to apply for the young carer grant
  - Challenging a decision on the young carer grant
  - Young carer grant spend and caseload
- Best start grant
  - Amount of best start grant provided
  - Eligibility for the best start grant
    
    Relationship to the child
    
    Qualifying benefits for best start grant
    
    Residence requirements for the best start grant
  - When an application for best start grant can be made
  - How to apply for the best start grant
  - Challenging a decision on best start grant
  - Spend and caseload on best start grant
- Best start foods
  - Amount provided for best start foods
  - Eligibility for best start foods
    
    Relationship to the child
    
    Qualifying benefits for best start foods
    
    Residence requirements for best start foods
  - When an application for best start foods can be made
  - How to apply for best start foods
  - Challenging a decision on best start foods
    
    Offences relating to best start foods claims
  - Spend and caseload on best start foods
  - Comparison with healthy start scheme
- Funeral support payment
  - Amount of funeral support payment provided
  - Eligibility for funeral support payment
    
    Responsibility for the funeral costs
    
    Qualifying benefits for funeral support payment
    
    Residence requirements for funeral support payment
  - When an application for funeral support payment can be made
  - How to apply for the funeral support payment
  - Challenging a decision on funeral support payment
  - Funeral support payment spend and caseload
  - Comparison with DWP scheme
Sources

Image: Chart 1: Scottish Choices and APAs

If you got carer's allowance on 15 April or 14 October 2019, Social Security Scotland will pay you an additional £226.20 in June and December. Paid automatically.

Image: Carer's allowance supplement

best start grant: £600 for first child, £300 for other children around birth. £250 at nursery age and £250 around time of starting school. For parents under 18, dependent young parents and people getting qualifying benefits.

Image: Funeral support payment

Scottish Government. (2018, September). Young Carer Grant regulations: consultation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-young-carer-grant-regulations/pages/4/ [accessed 10 April 2019]

Scottish Fiscal Commission. (2019, May 30). Scotland's economic and fiscal forecast May 2019. Retrieved from http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/publications/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts-may-2019/ [accessed 31 May 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, February 28). Devolution of benefits: Ministerial statement. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=10910 [accessed 10 April 2019]

Campbell, A., & Somerville, S.A. (2019, June 26). Letter from Aileen Campbell, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government and Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Bob Doris, MSP, Convener Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20190626_CabSecSSOP_to_Convener_on_Scottish_Child_Payment.pdf [accessed 26 July 2019]

Sturgeon, N. (2019, September). Programme for Government 2019-20: First minister's speech. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/fm-programme-government/ [accessed 25 September 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, February). Social security questions and answers: Employment Injury Assistance. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2019/02/social-security-questions-and-answers/documents/employment-injury-assistance---questions-and-answers/employment-injury-assistance---questions-and-answers/govscot%3Adocument [accessed 17 April 2019]

Scottish Parliament. (2019, June 26). Written PQ S5W-24018. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-24018&ResultsPerPage=10 [accessed 25 September 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, September 18). New jobs benefit to launch next spring. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/new-jobs-benefit-to-launch-next-spring/ [accessed 2 October 2019]

The Universal Credit (Claims and Payments) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 no.227. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2017/227/made [accessed 11 April 2019]

The Universal Credit (Claims and Payments) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 no. 436. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2017/436/made [accessed 11 April 2019]

DWP. (2019, April 4). Universal credit and rented housing: Guide for landlords. Retrieved from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords#alternative-payment-arrangements-1 [accessed 31 May 2019]

DWP. (2019, June). StatXplore: households on universal credit. February 2019. Retrieved from https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/dataCatalogueExplorer.xhtml [accessed 14 June 2019]

Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee. (2019, May). Official Report column 8. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12072&mode=pdf [accessed 31 May 2019]

Written PQ S5W-18721. (2018, September 26). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-18721&DateTo=3/22/2019%2011:59:59%20PM&SortBy=DateSubmitted&Answers=All&SearchFor=All&ResultsPerPage=10

Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee. (2019, November 22). Official Report, col 15. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11801&mode=pdf [accessed 11 April 2019]

Social Security Committee. (2019, June). Social Security Support for Housing.. Retrieved from https://digitalpublications.parliament.scot/Committees/Report/SSC/2019/6/12/Social-Security-Support-for-Housing#Summary-of-conclusions [accessed 14 June 2019]

Somerville, S.A., & Stewart, K. (2019, August 8). Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville MPS, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People and Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning to Bob Doris MSP, Convener, Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/Inquiries/20190808_CabSecSSOP_MinisterLGPH_to_Convener_response_SSSHreport.pdf [accessed 25 September 2019]

Freeman, J. (2018, June 21). Letter from Jean Freeman MSP, Minister for Social Security to Clare Adamson MSP, Convener, Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20180619_MinisterSSecuritytoConvener_socialsecuritybillamendment.pdf [accessed 11 April 2019]

Somerville, S.A. (2019, February 12). Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Bob Doris, MSP, Convener Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20190212_CabSecSSOP_to_Conv_UC-_split_payments.pdf [accessed 19 July 2019]

Written PQ S5W-19091. (2018, October 17). Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-19091&ResultsPerPage=10 [accessed 11 April 2019]

Somerville, S.A. (2018, December 12). Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Bob Doris MSP, Convener, Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20181212CabSecCarersAllowance.pdf [accessed 11 April 2019]

Somerville, S.A. (2019, September 2). Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Bob Doris MSP, Convener, Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20190902_CabSecSSOP_to_Convener_uprating_measures.pdf [accessed 25 September 2019]

Scottish Commission on Social Security. (2019). Social Security Uprating Report. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-commission-on-social-security-uprating-report-2019/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee. (2019). Minutes of 22nd meeting (session 5) 10 October 2019. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/Minutes/Minutes20191010.pdf [accessed 16 October 2019]

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2018 no.872. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/872/contents/made [accessed 11 April 2019]

Scottish Parliament. (2018, April 19). Written PQ. S5W-15619. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx?SearchType=Advance&ReferenceNumbers=S5W-15619&DateTo=3/22/2019%2011:59:59%20PM&SortBy=DateSubmitted&Answers=All&SearchFor=All&ResultsPerPage=10 [accessed 11 April 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, March). Carer's allowance supplement. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/carers-allowance-supplement/ [accessed 11 April 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, September). Social Security Scotland Feedback Statistics. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/SocialSecurityforScotland/FeedbackJun19 [accessed 25 September 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, May). Carer's allowance and carer's allowance supplement October eligibility date 2018. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/SocialSecurityforScotland/CASOct2018 [accessed 31 May 2019]

Social Security Scotland. (2019, September). Annual Report and Accounts 2018/19.

Scottish Government news release. (2019, October 16). New benefit for young carers. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/new-benefit-for-young-carers/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

The Carer's Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 DRAFT. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2019/9780111042496/contents [accessed 19 July 2019]

Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee. (2019, September 19). 20th Meeting 2019. Retrieved from http://parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12268&mode=pdf

Scottish Government. (2019, June 12). Extra Support for Young Carers. Retrieved from https://news.gov.scot/news/extra-support-for-young-carers [accessed 18 July 2019]

Scottish Commission on Scottish Social Security. (2019, June). The Carer's Assistance (Young Carer Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2019: scrutiny report on draft regulations. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/young-carer-grants-scotland-draft-regulations-2019-scrutiny-report/ [accessed 18 July 2019]

Scottish Government. (2018, November). Social Security Experience Panels: Young carer grant - initial findings. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-experience-panels-initial-findings-development-young-carer-grant/pages/6/ [accessed 18 July 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, June). Young Carer Grant: Response to Scottish Commission on Social Security. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/young-carer-grant-response-scottish-commission-social-security/ [accessed 19 July 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, June). Young Carer Grant consultation: our response. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-government-response-young-carer-grant-consultation/pages/1/ [accessed 18 July 2019]

Social Security Committee 19 September 2019 [Draft], Shirley-Anne Somerville, contrib. 58, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=12268&c=2200713

Scottish Government. (2019, June). Young carer grant equality impact assessment. Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2019/9780111042496/pdfs/sdsieqia_9780111042496_en.pdf [accessed 18 July 2019]

Scottish Fiscal Commission. (2018, December). Scotland's Economic and Fiscal Forecast, December 2018. Retrieved from http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/media/1435/scotlands-economic-and-fiscal-forecasts-december-2018-full-report.pdf [accessed 10 April 2019]

The Early Years Assistance (Best Start Grants) (Scotland) (Amendment No.2) Regulations 2019 [Draft]. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/sdsi/2019/9780111040546/contents [accessed 11 April 2019]

The Early Years Assistance (Best Start Grants) (Scotland) (Amendment No.1) Regulations 2019 no. 110. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/110/contents/made

The Early Years Assistance (Best Start Grants) (Scotland) Regulations 2018 no. 370. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2018/370/contents/made [accessed 11 April 2019]

Social Security Scotland. (2019, June 10). Social Security Scotland: Best start grant staff guidance: FOI release. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-19-01219/ [accessed 14 June 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, September). Best start grant (BSG) guidance and best start foods FOI Release. Response dated 20 September 2019. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-19-02060/ [accessed 26 September 2019]

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Best Start Grants) (Consequential Modification and Saving) Order 2018 no. 1138. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/1138/contents/made [accessed 17 April 2019]

The Tax Credits and Childcare (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2018 no.365. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/365/contents/made [accessed 19 July 2019]

The Council Tax Reduction (Scotland) Amendment (No.3) Regulations 2018 no. 295. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2018/295/contents/made [accessed 19 July 2019]

Scottish Parliament Social Security Committee. (2019, February 21). Official Report col 6. Retrieved from http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11955&mode=pdf [accessed 11 April 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, September). Best start grant: high level statistics to June 2019. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Social-Welfare/SocialSecurityforScotland/BSGJune2019 [accessed 26 September 2019]

Scottish Government News Release. (2019, May 29). Best start grant for young asylum seekers. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/news/best-start-grant-for-young-asylum-seekers/ [accessed 31 May 2019]

Social Security Committee 21 February 2019, Shirley-Anne Somerville, contrib. 46, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11955&c=2153990

Social Security Committee 21 February 2019, Shirley-Anne Somerville, contrib. 38, http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=11955&c=2153982

Scottish Government. (n.d.) Best start grant and best start foods: after you've applied. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/after-youve-applied-best-start-grant-foods/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Fiscal Commission. (2019, September). Forecast evaluation report 2018-19. Retrieved from http://www.fiscalcommission.scot/publications/forecast-evaluation-reports/forecast-evaluation-report-september-2019/ [accessed 26 September 2019]

Scottish Government. (2018, April). Welfare foods: consultation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/welfare-foods-consultation-meeting-needs-children-families-scotland/pages/3/ [accessed 10 April 2019]

The Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019 no. 193. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/193/contents/made [accessed 13 June 2019]

FitzPatrick, J. (2019, September 23). Letter from Joe FitzPatrick, MSP, Minister for Public Health, Sport and Well-being to Bob Doris, Convener, Social Security Committee. Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/S5_Social_Security/General%20Documents/20190923_MPHSW_to_Convener_Best_Start_Foods.pdf [accessed 15 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). Personal communication. (n.p.): (n.p.).

Scottish Government. (n.d.) After you've applied for best start grants and foods. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/after-youve-applied-best-start-grant-foods/ [accessed 15 October 2019]

Social Security Scotland. (n.d.) Best start grant guidance and best start foods guidance: FOI ref: 19/02060 Document: Internal Review. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-19-02060/ [accessed 15 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (n.d.) If you do not agree with a benefit decision. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/if-you-do-not-agree-with-a-benefit-decision/ [accessed 15 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment: Welfare Foods (Best Start Foods) (Scotland) Regulations 2019. Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/193/pdfs/ssifia_20190193_en.pdf [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019, June). Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment. Best start foods. Retrieved from https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2019/193/pdfs/ssifia_20190193_en.pdf [accessed 19 June 2019]

The Healthy Start Scheme and Welfare Food (Amendment) Regulations 2005. no. 3262. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3262/contents/made [accessed 19 June 2019]

Social Security Scotland News Release. (2019, October 11). Funeral Support Payment Now Open for Applications. Retrieved from https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/news/funeral-support-payment-now-open-for-applications-1 [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). Funeral Support Payment. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment/if-the-person-who-died-was-18-or-over/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). Burial and Cremation Costs. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/burial-cremation-costs-scotland/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government News Release. (2019, May 18). Child Burial and Cremation Fees to End. Retrieved from https://news.gov.scot/news/child-burial-and-cremation-fees-to-end [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2018). Funeral Expense Assistance Regulations Consultation. Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/publications/consultation-funeral-expense-assistance-regulations/pages/8/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). After you've applied for the funeral support payment. Retrieved from https://www.mygov.scot/after-youve-applied-for-the-funeral-support-payment/ [accessed 16 October 2019]

Scottish Government. (2019). Forthcoming Publications. Retrieved from https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/ForthcomingPubs [accessed 16 October 2019]

Birrell, J. (2016). Funeral poverty in Scotland: A review for the Scottish Government. Retrieved from https://www.cas.org.uk/system/files/publications/funeral_poverty_in_scotland_0.pdf [accessed 23 October 2019]

Last Updated: 23/5 7:15pm

Image: Chart 1: Scottish Choices and APAs

Image: Carer's allowance supplement

Image: Best start grant

Image: Best start foods

Image: Funeral support payment

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.