What Benefits Can I Claim in Scotland?

Who this guide is for

People in Scotland who want to know which benefits they may be able to claim, and who can claim each one. Some benefits come from Social Security Scotland, and some still come from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs.

What this guide does not cover

• People in England, Wales or Northern Ireland: see the England and Wales guide or the Northern Ireland guide.
• How much you would get: this guide gives no benefit amounts. Use a benefits calculator (see Where to go for help).
• Losing your job, New Style JSA and Universal Credit amounts: use the unemployment checker.
• Challenging a Universal Credit decision: use the Universal Credit appeals checker.
• Complaints about how a benefits office treated you: use the benefits complaints checker.
• Tax on foster care payments: use the foster carers checker.
• State Pension amounts, students, people from abroad and people in prison or a care home. Ask a free adviser.

The questions that decide the answer

1. Where do you live? Scotland: this guide. England and Wales, and Northern Ireland, have their own guides.
2. How old are you? 16 to State Pension age: Adult Disability Payment may apply. State Pension age or over: Pension Age Disability Payment and Pension Credit may apply.
3. Do you have a health condition or disability? Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, or Child Disability Payment for a child.
4. Do you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more? Carer Support Payment may apply.
5. Do you get Universal Credit or another qualifying benefit, and look after a child under 16? Scottish Child Payment may apply.

"I have a health condition or disability"

Adult Disability Payment is for people between 16 and State Pension age who have a disability, a long-term physical or mental health condition, or a terminal illness. You can apply even if you are waiting for a diagnosis. You cannot get PIP and Adult Disability Payment at the same time.

How Adult Disability Payment is scored: Social Security Scotland gives points for daily living activities and for 2 mobility activities (planning and following journeys, and moving around). For each part, 8 to 11 points gives the standard rate and 12 or more gives the enhanced rate. It looks at whether you can do each activity reliably, for example as often as you need to. Moving around scores 0 points if you can stand and then move more than 200 metres, 4 points for more than 50 but no more than 200 metres, 8 points for more than 20 but no more than 50 metres without an aid, 10 points for that distance using an aid such as a walking stick, and 12 points if you cannot move more than 20 metres.

Pension Age Disability Payment is for people of State Pension age with care needs because of a disability, long-term health condition or terminal illness. It is not means-tested.

Child Disability Payment is for a disabled child who lives in Scotland. An adult with parental responsibilities or a guardian applies for them.

"I look after someone"

Carer Support Payment is for people aged 16 or over who provide 35 hours or more of unpaid care a week to someone getting certain disability benefits, and whose earnings are under the limit. If you still get Carer's Allowance and have not had a letter about moving over, contact Social Security Scotland.

"I have children"

Scottish Child Payment: you may get it if you live in Scotland, you or your partner are the main person looking after a child under 16, and you or your partner get Universal Credit or income-based JSA (or you get Pension Credit, Income Support or income-related ESA). Child Benefit on its own does not count. You can apply if you have applied for a qualifying benefit and are waiting.

Child Benefit is for people responsible for bringing up a child who is under 16, or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training.

"I'm on a low income, out of work or over State Pension age"

Universal Credit covers people on a low income or out of work. Your partner's income and savings count. Savings under £6,000 do not affect it, and you usually cannot get it with more than £16,000.

Pension Credit gives extra money if you are over State Pension age and on a low income, even if you have other income, savings or own your home.

"My Universal Credit has been sanctioned"

• A sanction means your Universal Credit is cut because the DWP says you did not do something you were asked to do, such as going to an appointment, without a good reason. You are told in your Universal Credit journal or by letter. If you had a good reason, your payment is not reduced.
• How long it lasts depends on the level. Lowest level (your only requirement is to take part in appointments to discuss work): from the date of the appointment until the day before you contact the DWP to arrange a new one. You must then take part in it.
• Low level: until the day before you do the activity, plus usually 7 days. It is 14, then 28 days extra if you have had other low level sanctions in the last 365 days.
• Medium level: 28 days for your first in any 365 days. It might be 91 days if you had another one in the past year.
• High level: 91 days for your first. It can be up to 182 days if you had another one in the past year.
• If you are 16 or 17, sanctions are usually shorter: medium usually 7 days (14 after another in the past year), high usually 14 days (28 after another in the past year).
• You will not have 2 sanctions at once, but they can run back to back.
• How much: your standard allowance is cut by 100% for each day of the sanction, or 40% if you are 16 or 17 or your only requirement is to attend appointments to discuss work. Less may be taken off if you care for young children or people with disabilities, your baby is due in less than 11 weeks, you had a baby less than 15 weeks ago, or a child was placed with you for adoption less than a year ago. The amounts for children and housing are still paid.
• Hardship payment: if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs because of a sanction, you can ask for a hardship payment. You pay it back through your Universal Credit, so your payments are lower until it is repaid.
• To challenge a sanction, ask for mandatory reconsideration (a note in your journal, by phone, face to face or in writing), usually within one month of the date of the decision. Use the Universal Credit appeals checker.

Housing Benefit

• You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if you have reached State Pension age, or you live in supported, sheltered or temporary housing. If you live with a partner, the State Pension age rule means you both need to have reached it, unless one of you started claiming Pension Credit for you as a couple before 15 May 2019.
• Otherwise, claim Universal Credit. It can include help with housing costs.
• Housing Benefit is handled by your local council. If you think a decision is wrong, you can ask the council to look at it again, or appeal to an independent tribunal. Ask the council within one month of being told about the decision. An appeal is sent to the council, not the tribunal, usually within one month of the date the decision was sent to you.

Deadlines you must meet

• This guide sets out no deadline for claiming. If you think you qualify, apply.
• Challenging a Social Security Scotland decision on Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment: ask for a re-determination within 42 days of the date on your decision letter. Other payments, such as Scottish Child Payment, have 31 days: your decision letter gives the time limit. If you are late, still ask and give your reason: a late request can be accepted if there is a good reason. For Adult Disability Payment, Social Security Scotland then has 56 days to decide.
• If you still disagree after the re-determination, or Social Security Scotland does not decide in time, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, which is independent. Ask to appeal within 31 days of getting the re-determination decision, using the appeal form. If you ask later you must explain why.
• Challenging a DWP decision (for example Universal Credit or ESA): ask the DWP for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. For Universal Credit, use the Universal Credit appeals checker.

Money figures

• Universal Credit: savings under £6,000 do not count; above £16,000 you usually cannot get it. This guide gives no benefit amounts.

Traps

• In Scotland, do not apply for PIP, Attendance Allowance or Carer's Allowance: the Scottish replacements are Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment and Carer Support Payment.
• Child Benefit alone does not qualify you for Scottish Child Payment.
• Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Child Benefit are still UK benefits in Scotland.
• If you move to Scotland from elsewhere in the UK, tell the benefit office and apply to Social Security Scotland for the Scottish replacement.