The following Information is available to download as a Word Document or a PDF Document
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Introduction
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Benefits for people who are disabled
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Benefits for people who are not able to work
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Universal Credit
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Benefits for carers in Scotland
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Benefits for older people
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Help with rent and Council Tax
Introduction
Social security entitlements can provide financial support for people who may be on a low income, looking after children, unemployed, unable to work, disabled, 66 or over, or who are carers.
The systems of benefits and social security are a bit of a maze. You may need to make claims to several different agencies for different types of benefit and it can be hard to figure out what you are entitled to.
Benefits may be
- means-tested and have rules about your income and savings, or
- not means tested so you may qualify regardless of your income and savings, or
- based on your national insurance contributions or national insurance credits
Don’t be put off claiming your due by negative things you see in the media; many people miss out on what they are entitled to because of stigma or fear of making a mistake.
If you are at all unsure about your rights, it is a good idea to have a benefits check; this can give you an idea of what you might be entitled to.
You can have a benefits check at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. See here Find your local CAB. They have information about what to bring to an appointment with you. See here What to bring to a Citizens Advice Bureau
If you want to check your benefits yourself, you can use the Turn2us benefit calculator online.
If you want to know about benefits for older people, Age Scotland has a guide explaining what to expect when you have a Benefit Check, an online Benefit Calculator and a helpline 0800 12 44 222
To find your local advice service search our Scottish Disability Directory or contact our helpline on 0300 323 9961.
This guide describes the main benefits for disabled people who live in Scotland.
Benefits for people who are disabled
The benefit systems for people who are “unfit for work” and those who are “disabled” do not link together very well. Depending on your disability or health problem you may be classed as “unfit for work” or “disabled” or both.
The benefits for people who are “disabled” are not means tested; the rules are not at all interested in how much income or savings you have and no-one will ever ask what you spend the money on. Most disability benefits can provide support if you need help with care or someone keeping an eye on you, and also if you have mobility problems.
Disability benefits are really important as receiving them can entitle you to extra amounts of means tested benefits. Some rates of benefit can also mean that you will qualify for a Blue Badge or disabled person’s bus pass.
The old disability benefits were
- Disability Living Allowance for adults or children (DLA)
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Attendance Allowance
These were (and some still are) paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
Disability benefits are moving from being paid by the DWP to being paid by Social Security Scotland
The new benefits are:
Child Disability payment for disabled children – this replaces DLA for children:See hereChild Disability Payment
Adult Disability Payment for disabled working-age people – this replaces PIP and DLA. If you are already receiving it, it continues after state pension age. Adult Disability Payment. The Child Poverty Action Group have written a useful guide about Adult Disability Payment:See hereAdult disability payment assessment | CPAG
Pension Age Disability Payment will start to be introduced in late 2024 to replace Attendance Allowance.See here New disability benefit for pensioners. You cannot get help because of mobility problems through Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability payment.
If you are receiving one of the old disability benefits, you will be transferred on to one of the new Scottish benefits. You will receive letters from the DWP and Social Security Scotland about this and you will not need to make a new claim.
If you need advocacy support to make a claim, you can get free help from the charity Voiceability.See hereVoiceability Support to access benefits in Scotland
If you would like to speak to someone locally about your claim, Social Security Scotland have local teams who can help you. Call them on 0800 182 2222 or contact them through the Social Security Scotland website. Social Security Scotland – Benefits
Disability benefits are not connected to your separate rights to help from your council if you need care, equipment or adaptations to your home. To find out more call our helpline on 0300 323 9961.
Benefits for people who are not able to work
The main benefits for people who are not well enough to work are:
- Statutory Sick Pay for people who are employed and satisfy the rules to qualify. See here Statutory Sick Pay (SSP)
- New Style Employment and Support Allowance for people who have enough national Insurance contributions. See here New Style Employment and Support Allowance
- Means tested Universal Credit for people who have a low income and savings under £16,000 (their partner’s income, capital and circumstances are counted too)
There is an assessment process for both New Style Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit. This decides whether you are
- well enough to work
- unwell, but well enough to take some steps to be ready for work (Limited capability for work)
- too unwell to be expected to take steps to look for work (Limited capability for work and work related activity)
There is detailed information about the “work capability assessment” here Getting Universal Credit if you’re sick or disabled
Universal credit
Universal Credit is replacing the old benefits
- Income Support
- New style (means tested) Jobseekers Allowance
- New style (means tested) Employment and Support Allowance
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit and
- Housing Benefit.
If you are receiving one of those benefits now, you will “migrate” onto Universal Credit in the next year or so and you will need to make a new claim for Universal Credit. Your old benefit will stop. If you are not sure what to do when you get a letter about this, seek expert benefits advice quickly.
Universal Credit is a benefit for people who have a low income. It is means tested and takes into account the income, savings and circumstances of yourself and your partner.
Universal Credit is worked out by adding together allowances for things like an allowance for living costs, and additions for children, childcare, being a carer, being very unwell, and help with rent.
You can find out how to apply online here: Universal Credit Application or
Citizens Advice can help you to make a claim here. Help to make Universal Credit claim
Benefits for carers in Scotland
The main benefit for carers is Carer’s Allowance but this is changing. You can qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you care for 35 or more hours a week for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit, you are not in full-time education and you do not earn more than £151 a week after costs.
The qualifying disability benefits (received by the person you care for) are:
- Child Disability Payment – the middle or highest care rate,
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate,
- Personal Independence Payment – daily living component,
- Adult Disability Payment – daily living component,
- Disability Living Allowance – the middle or highest care rate,
- Attendance Allowance,
- Equivalent amounts from Industrial injuries or armed forces payments.
In Scotland, Carer’s Allowance is being replaced by Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland. See here Carer Support Payment. If you are currently receiving Carer’s Allowance you will be transferred to Carer Support Payment and you will not need to make a new claim.
Carer Support Payment has similar rules to Carer’s Allowance, but Carer Support Payment can also be claimed by many people who are in full time education.
If you need to make a new claim for benefits as a carer check here postcode check to see whether Carer Support Payment is available where you live. Carers can also be entitled to Universal Credit.
The Scottish Government already pays Carer’s Allowance Supplement to most people in Scotland who receive Carer’s Allowance: See here Carers Support Allowance People who receive Carer Support Payment will also be entitled to Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
You should always get benefits advice before claiming Carer’s Allowance as it can sometimes reduce the benefits of the person you care for.
Carers benefits are not connected to your separate rights to help from your council if you need care, equipment or adaptations to your home. To find out more call our helpline on 0300 323 9961.
Benefits for older people
State Pension and Pension Credit
You can claim your State Pension when you are 66. You may be able to claim Pension credit at 66 too, though your if you have a younger partner you cannot claim Pension Credit until they have reached their State Pension age too.
State Pension
You can claim State Pension when you reach 66. From 6 May 2026, State Pension age will start increasing again and will reach 67 by 6 March 2028.
If you have internet access you can check your State Pension age at Check your state-pension-age
You can find out more about State Pension on the Age Scotland website here State Pension
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is extra money to help you cover your costs if you (and you partner if you have one) are 66 or over and living on a low income. Pension Credit tops up your income to a level set by the government and you may be able to receive additional Pension Credit if you are a carer or receive a disability related benefit.
You can find out how to claim Pension Credit here Pension Credit: Overview
For more information about Pension Credit see the Age Scotland website. See here Pension Credit | Age Scotland
Help with rent and council tax
Rent
If you receive Universal Credit, you will usually receive help with your rent as part of Universal Credit. If you do not receive Universal Credit (for example because you are over State Pension age) you may be able to claim housing benefit from your council to help with your rent costs.
Council Tax
Council tax helps to pay for local services such as rubbish and recycling collection. There are many ways of getting help with Council Tax. Citizens Advice Scotland has an online tool you can use to see if you may qualify for help: See here Council Tax Reduction Tool
Information last updated on 14 August 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
We are grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this publication
