Single Parent FAQs: Social Security Scotland

09/12/2021

Our advice and information team who work on our Lone Parent Helpline, webchat and Ask a Question feature, receive questions from single parents around Scotland every day.

Our single Parent FAQs spotlight Frequently Asked Questions on a different topic each month.

This month, our advice team have been receiving a lot of calls from single parents regarding Social Security Scotland.

Take a look at the FAQ's

What is Social Security Scotland?

Social Security Scotland provides benefits to people in Scotland. It is replacing some of the UK benefits in Scotland.

I have a child that is 2 and my friend said she gets £40 every 4 weeks, I only get child benefit and universal credit, is this something that I can apply for?

Your friend will be receiving the Scottish Child Payment which is a payment of £26.70 (£27.15 from April 2025) per week for eligible families with a child in their care.

This amount is paid on a 4-week basis, so £106.80 (£108.60 from April 2025) every 4 weeks.

More info and how to apply can be found here.

My son is going to be 16 soon and I do not know how the change in benefit is going to affect him, will he have to apply for Personal Independence Payment?

Child Disability Payment is a benefit from the Scottish Government. It is given to help with the extra costs of caring for a child, or young person up to the age of 16, with a disability or long-term ill-health condition. You can apply for it until your son reaches 16.

It is replacing Disability Living allowance for children living in Scotland.

See more information and how to apply here.

I am pregnant with my first child and wondering if there is anything I can claim for baby items?

The Scottish Government has introduced a grant to help with the costs of a new baby called the Best Start Grant. This has replaced the Sure Start Maternity Grant that is no longer available in Scotland.

The Best Start Grant includes 3 different grants:

  • Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Payment – to help with the costs of pregnancy and having a new baby. You will receive £754.65 (£767.50 from April 2025) from your 25th week of pregnancy to 6 months after the birth of your first child and £377.35 (£383.75 from April 2025) on the birth of any following children.
  • Best Start Early Learning Payment – a payment of £314.45 (£319.80 from April 2025) to help with the costs of early learning. It is paid when your child is between 2 years and 3 years 6 months old. Your child does not need to be in nursery to get it. If you did not get the Pregnancy and Baby Payment you can still apply for this part.
  • Best Start School Age Payment – a further payment of £314.45 (£319.80 from April 2025) to help with the additional costs when your child is school age. Your child does not need to start school to get this.

Find out more about the Best Start Grant.

I am disabled, and my daughter helps me a lot about 24 hours per week, however she is in full time education and not eligible for Carer’s Allowance is there anything she can get?

Your daughter would be entitled to claim Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £383.75 (£390.25 from April 2025) for young carer’s in Scotland.

To be able to get Young Carer Grant, you must be 16, 17 or 18 years old and also caring for 1,2, or 3 people on average over 16 hour per week for 3 months.

More info and how to apply.

My son is disabled, and we are really struggling with our gas bills just now, I apply every year and am awarded the Warm Home Discount, I get high-rate care and high-rate care is there anything else I can apply for?

Child Winter Heating Payment is a benefit from the Scottish Government. It’s a payment to help families with disabled children and young people to pay for their heating costs over winter.

It’s paid once a year. The payment for winter 2024-2025 was £251.50. The payment for winter 2025-2026 is £255.80. Payments are usually made from the end of November onwards.

More information can be found here.

My mum died last week, and I just don’t know where to get help, she has left no money and we have no other family to help with the cost of the funeral, do you know of anywhere I could apply to for a grant for the funeral costs?

Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland if you are on a low income. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

It usually will not cover the full cost of the funeral, but it should help pay for some costs. It can be paid either to you or the funeral director who’s helping you plan the funeral.

Only one person can get Funeral Support Payment for the funeral.

Funeral Support Payment will not usually cover the full cost of a funeral. The amount you get will depend on several factors. Whilst the average payment is expected to be £1,950, the average funeral costs over £3,500.

More info and to apply.

My Scottish Child Payment has not been paid this month any ideas why?

Have your circumstances changed recently? If your income has changed you may longer be entitled or has your child turned 16, once your child turns 16 the payment stops.

Find out more about what happens to your benefits when your child turns 16. 

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