Single Parent FAQs: Scottish Benefits – Issue 29

Depending on your circumstances you may be entitled to the Best Start Grant. This has replaced the Sure Start Maternity Grant which is no longer available in Scotland. Get in touch on our advice channels and we can calculate what benefits you can claim and when.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is £288.60 paid twice per year, equivalent to £11.10 per week (from April 2025: £293.50 paid twice per year, equivalent to £11.29 per week).

You will receive one payment in June and once in December.

If you’re due to get a payment, you’ll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made with the exact date it should be paid on.

The Scottish Child Payment stops when the young person reaches 16.

Your daughter may get a Young Carer Grant if they care for someone who is getting Personal Independence Payment daily living component, Disability Living Allowance or Child Disability Payment care component at middle or highest rate or Attendance Allowance.

Who can get a Young Carer Grant?

• You normally live in Scotland
• You are aged 16, 17 or 18
• You are not entitled to Carer’s Allowance on the day you claim
• You are caring for someone, or for more than one person, who has a disability or illness
• You are providing care for at least 16 hours a week on average
• No-one else has received a Young Carer Grant in respect of the person you care for in the last year.

Care means being involved in an activity to promote the physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing of the person, or people, you are caring for. If you care for more than one person, the number of hours you provide care can be added together. You must not be providing this care under a contract or voluntarily.

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 (£390.25 from April 2025) for young carers in Scotland. More info and how to apply for Young Carer Grant

You may get Funeral Support Payment if the person who died lived in the UK and the funeral is taking, or has taken, place in the UK. You must also be getting certain benefits. Funeral Support Payment is money to help pay for the costs of a funeral or cremation. It can help pay for the cost of the funeral of an adult, a child or a still born baby born after 24 weeks of pregnancy. More information and how to apply for the Funeral Support Payment.

Child Disability Payment and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) are given for children who have a disability or illness that affects their ability to participate in everyday life. Child Disability Payment has replaced DLA for children in Scotland.

Benefits are paid in arrears, you will receive the uprated amount in your next payment.