Overview
Social security entitlements provide financial support for people who may be on a low income, unemployed, unable to work because of disability, retired, or are carers.
Benefits may be
- means-tested and have rules about your income and savings
- not means tested so you may qualify regardless of your income and savings
- based on your national insurance contributions or national insurance credits
This guide is for people who live in Scotland.
Old benefits (legacy benefits)
You can no longer make a new claim for Income Support, means tested Jobseekers Allowance, and means tested Employment and Support Allowance. You may be able to apply for Universal Credit instead.
Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance are old benefits and are being replaced by Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment in Scotland; these are not means tested and can help if you have care needs or mobility problems. If you currently receive Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance you will in future be moved onto Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment paid by Social Security Scotland. Social Security Scotland – Benefits
New style Jobseeker's Allowance
You can claim New style Jobseekers Allowance if you are looking for work and have enough National Insurance contributions.
Your savings and your partner’s income and savings will not affect your claim.
New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You can get New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance for up to 182 days.
New style Employment and Support Allowance
New style Employment and Support Allowance is for people who have limited ability to work because of an illness, disability or health condition and have enough National Insurance contributions or credits.
Your savings and your partner’s income and savings will not affect your claim.
You can apply online or call Jobcentre Plus to make a claim: 0800 055 6688 Textphone: 0800 023 4888
New Style Employment and Support Allowance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Universal Credit
Universal Credit
Universal Credit is a benefit for people who have a low income. It replaces old means-tested benefits such as Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit (for most people under State Pension age), and Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. The income and savings of both you and your partner are considered when your claim is assessed.
You can find out how to apply online here: Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or
Citizens Advice can help you to make a claim Help to Claim Universal Credit | Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk)
Help with rent and council tax
If you receive Universal Credit, you will usually receive help with your rent as part of Universal Credit not as a payment from your council. You can receive help with your Council Tax whether or not you receive Universal Credit.
Local Housing Allowance is help with rent if you have a private landlord.
The rate of Local Housing Allowance you will get depends on the council area where you live and the number of rooms you are assessed to need. You can find your local rate here Local Housing Allowance Rates: 2024-2025 – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
If the amount of Local Housing Allowance is less than your total rent, you may be able to get help from your council from a Discretionary Housing Payment. Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment – mygov.scot
Housing benefit is help with rent if you are a council or housing association tenant and have a low income. It may be less than your actual rent because of the “bedroom tax” if you are assessed as having more bedrooms than you need. You can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment through your local council if this affects you Apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment – mygov.scot
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: Council Tax Reduction Tool – Citizens Advice Scotland (checkmycounciltax.scot)
Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Adult Disability Payment
Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance are the old benefits that could be claimed by people under State Pension age who were entitled to them because of care needs or mobility problems.
In Scotland people receiving these benefits will be moved onto Adult Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
Adult Disability Payment
Adult Disability Payment can help if you have care needs or mobility problems.
You can apply online or call Social Security Scotland to start a claim: 0800 182 2222.
This link will take you to the Scottish Government Adult Disability Payment information https://www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment
Social Security Scotland have local teams who can help you to make a claim; call them on 0800 182 2222 or contact them through their website to make an appointment locally.
The Child Poverty Action Group have a useful guide about Adult Disability Payment here: Adult disability payment assessment | CPAG
The charity Voiceability can provide you with free advocacy support to make a claim VoiceAbility | Support to access benefits in Scotland
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a non means tested benefit for people over State Pension age (currently 66) who have care needs.
You can find out about Attendance Allowance on the Age Scotland website here Attendance Allowance | Age Scotland (ageuk.org.uk)
Over the next few years Attendance Allowance will be replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland.
To claim Attendance Allowance see
Attendance Allowance: Overview – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
It is best to ask Attendance Allowance to send you a dated claim form rather than downloading a form from their website. If they send you a form your claim starts from the date you called if you return it within 6 weeks.
Carer’s Allowance
Carer’s Allowance is a benefit for people who care for someone who has a disability or health condition. It doesn’t matter how much savings you have.
To qualify you must:
- look after someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit for a minimum of 35 hours a week,
- be aged 16 or over,
- not be in full-time education,
- not earn over £139 a week after deductions.
The qualifying disability benefits 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,
- Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit,
- Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension,
- Armed Forces Independence Payment.
In Scotland Carer’s Allowance is being replaced by Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland. Carer Support Payment has similar rules to Carer’s Allowance, but Carer Support Payment can be claimed by many people who are in full time education. If you are making a new claim and live in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross or the Western Isles you must now claim Carer Support Payment not Carer’s Allwoance.
Carer Support Payment – mygov.scot
The Scottish Government already pays Carer’s Allowance Supplement to most people in Scotland who receive Carer’s Allowance: Carer’s Allowance Supplement – mygov.scot
Find out more about Carer’s Allowance here: Carer’s Allowance: How it works – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You should always get benefits advice before claiming Carer’s Allowance as it can sometimes reduce the benefits of the person you care for.
State Pension and Pension Credit
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 www.gov.uk/state-pension-age
You can find out more about State Pension on the Age Scotland website here State Pension (ageuk.org.uk)
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 – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For more information about Pension Credit see the Age Scotland website Pension Credit | Age Scotland (ageuk.org.uk)
Information last updated on 29 February 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.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Money, Benefits and Grants:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Can I get a reduction of Vehicle Excise Duty?
If you are disabled you may be entitled to a reduction or exemption on vehicle tax. The vehicle must be registered in your name or a specific driver’s name and must only be used for your personal needs.
You can apply for exemption if you get the:
- higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
- War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the Personal Independence Payment standard rate mobility component or Adult Disability Payment standard rate mobility component Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
You can find out more here Vehicles exempt from vehicle tax – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Am I entitled to benefits and social security?
A benefits check is a calculation that will give you an idea of what you might be entitled to. You can get a check at your local Citizens Advice Bureau , a local advice project or a charity like Age Scotland. Age Scotland has a guide to what to expect when you have a benefit check M 15 ben check 2023.indd (ageuk.org.uk) and an online benefit calculator Benefit Calculator (agescotland.org.uk)
You can also use the Turn2us benefit calculator online.
To find your local advice service search our Scottish Disability Directory. or contact our helpline on 0300 323 9961.
What help is there with energy costs?
Energy costs used to be a worry in winter but now bills can be a challenge all year round.
The good news is there are different grants and schemes available to help people improve the heating in their homes and keep heating costs down.
Home Energy Scotland is a free energy advice service funded by the Scottish Government to help people save money and keep their homes warmer. They offer simple energy saving tips, and know about funding schemes and how to access them.
Their website Home Energy Scotland offers help with finding funding, reducing your bills, making your home warmer and living a greener life. You can call them on 0808 808 2282
Am I eligible for VAT relief on disability equipment?
In general, disabled people do not have to pay VAT on goods and services that are designed or adapted solely for use by disabled people. These goods and services are often called zero-rated or eligible for VAT relief.
Most suppliers will know if their product has been specifically designed to help disabled people. They will offer their products free of VAT as you buy them.
You’ll need to confirm in writing that you meet the conditions for zero rating. Your supplier may give you a form for this.
Most suppliers will use the Notice 701/7 VAT relief for disabled people form.
For further information see our VAT Exemption for Disabled Goods Information Guide or call our helpline on 0300 323 9961.
Money, Benefits and Grants:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
Organisation | Description |
---|---|
The Susan H Guy Charitable Trust – (SC000393) | General charitable purposes in Scotland |
The Sylvia Aitken Charitable Trust | Funding is intended for organisations which are involved in initiatives that benefit children, young people, students or researchers |
The Talisman Charitable Trust | Provides one-off grants to people in need |
The Theatrical Guild | Services provided: The Theatrical Guild offers ; emergency grants, long and short-term financial support, mid-career / up-skills training within the theatre industry, access to counselling, signposting and welfare advice. Please see our website for mor… |
The Trussell Trust | Community projects tackling poverty and exclusion in the UK and Bulgaria |
The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation | General charitable purposes in the UK and overseas |
The Tudor Trust | Services provided: Tudor makes grants, and provides other types of support, to voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK. They particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at… |
The WelfareTeam (Highland Council ) | Services provided Provide free, confidential benefit checks Provide assistance to complete relevant forms Provide assistance with appeals against benefit decisions, and if required provide representation at Tribunal Hearings |
The Well Multi Cultural Resource Centre | Services provided: A first level drop-in information and advice centre providing information on the following: Benefits Utilities Online Job seeking Family and personal issues Level 1 immigration advice (OISC registered) We also provide IT Support: Onl… |
The Wolfson Townsley Charitable Trust | Support excellence, generally through the funding of capital infrastructure in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts & humanities |