What the Spring Statement means for single parents in Scotland
The Spring Statement was announced on 26 March 2025 and outlines the Labour Government’s plans for spending.
27/03/2025
You might have heard about the changes to the benefits system which were announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement yesterday. But what does it mean for you?
If you want to know about what changes have already come into effect, find out what the April 2025 new tax year changes mean for you.
OPFS response to the Spring Statement
Read the full response to the Spring Statement by OPFS Chief Executive, Satwat Rehman.
Read the joint letter urging Rachel Reeves to reconsider the benefits cuts. The letter is signed by 40 women’s organisations across the UK including OPFS.
What if I need more urgent help?
- If you’re unsure about any of this information, we are happy to help. Call our helpline between 9:30am and 4pm between Monday and Friday on 0808 801 0323.
- If you would rather speak to us online, you can use our live web chat or you can email us on advice@opfs.org.uk.
- Crisis support
- Advice on reducing your living costs
- Access Scottish Welfare Fund
- Try our budgeting and debt planner
- Try the Turn2Us benefits calculator
- You can also contact our Helpline and we can run a credit check for you.
What is it?
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves announced the autumn budget in October 2024. The Spring Statement is a follow up to this, which announces further changes to Government finances and spending.
Single parents will mostly be impacted by the Spring Statement due to changes to Universal Credit amounts over the next few years.
What’s changing?
You might have heard outrage online, among friends and family, or in the media generally about cuts to disability benefits. It can be worrying to read or hear about this, especially if you’re receiving these benefits.
It’s unclear exactly how certain changes will impact claimants in Scotland at the moment, which might be adding to your worries.
To try and clear things up, we’ve compiled a list of changes to benefits amounts announced in the Spring Statement that we think might impact single parents in Scotland over the next few years.
Changes to Universal Credit
Increase in Universal Credit standard allowance
From April 2026, the Universal Credit standard allowance will go up.
This means that the rate for single parents aged 25 and over will increase from £92 a week between 2025 and 2026, to £106 a week between 2029 and 2030.
Changes to the health element of Universal Credit might negatively impact your income
From April 2026, the limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) element of Universal Credit will change:
- For new claimants: Where the LCWRA element of Universal Credit is currently £97 a week for the period 2024 to 2025, it will decrease to £50 a week in 2026 to 2027, and then frozen at this level until 2029/30.
- For existing claimants: The LCWRA element will be frozen at the current rate of £97 a week until 2030.
- Those under 22 will no longer be eligible for the LCWRA element.
However, if you’re considered to have a severe, life-long health condition or a terminal illnesses you will not be impacted in the same way. More information should become available on this soon.
Changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You might have heard that there will be changes to PIP. These changes will only impact people living in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.
You can no longer apply for PIP in Scotland.
If you have a disability or long term illness you can apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland instead. No reductions have been made to ADP as a result of the Spring Statement.
If you are already getting PIP you do not have to do anything. You will be transferred over to Adult Disability Payment by April 2025 without having another assessment and will get the same amount of money. You will receive a letter telling you when this will happen.
