Single Parent FAQs: Social Security Scotland

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.