New devolved benefit payment rates for pensioners, disabled people and families from next month
The Scottish Government has confirmed that it will increase all forms of carer's assistance, disability benefits, funeral expense assistance and Scottish Child Payment by 1.7 per cent for the 2025/26 financial year. All other devolved benefits and one-off payments, including winter heating help, where uprating is at the discretion of ministers, will also rise by the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation rate of 1.7 per cent from April 1.
The earnings limit for Carer Support Payment will be increased to £196.00 - equivalent to 16 hours at the new National Living Wage - aligning with the increase of the earnings limit for Carer’s Allowance, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
By the end of this year, Social Security Scotland will administer and deliver 18 payments, including the new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment which has now replaced Winter Fuel Payments north of the border.
READ MORE: New claims for Adult Disability Payment most-likely to get an ongoing monthly award of up to £737
READ MORE: Attendance Allowance set to end in 13 council areas this month
It’s also important to be aware that the remaining 80,000 claimants on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) living in Scotland will transfer to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) this Spring - letters have now been issued to all remaining claimants.
The disability benefit currently supports more than 374,655 people with a long-term illness, disability, or mental or physical health condition.
Pension Age Disability Payment is also set to replace Attendance Allowance for new and existing customers by the end of the year and Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - a closed benefit - will replace Disability Living Allowance (for Adults), for those over 65 not transferring from the DWP to ADP.
For anyone due to transfer over the coming months, there will be no breaks in payment and you will receive a letter well in advance of the migration which outlines the whole process. You can find out more about the moves on mygov.scot here.
Benefits and payments only available in Scotland in 2025
Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments with direct links to the dedicated pages on the Social Security Scotland website here.
It's important to be aware that the new payment rates start in April, but as nearly all benefits are paid four weeks in arrears, most people will not see the full uprating until May.
Winter Heating Payment - £59.75 annual payment
This annual payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP in 2023 and will be worth £59.75 during winter 2025/26. It is designed to help people on a low income or benefits who might have extra heating needs during the winter - find out more here.
Child Winter Heating Payment - £255.80 annual payment
This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and will be worth £255.80 next winter (2025/26). This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - find out more here.
Just remember, Adult Disability Payment will fully replace PIP by Spring this year so it's included here as there are still 80,000 people in receipt of the DWP benefits and intended as information only.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment - between £100 and £305.10 annual payment
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment will help people of State Pension age in receipt of means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit with higher energy bills during the colder months. It replaces Winter Fuel payments and for winter 2025/26, all pensioners in Scotland will receive a minimum of £100 - find out more here.
People aged between 66 and 79 on a qualifying benefit will receive £203. 40 (lower rate)
People aged 80 and over on a qualifying benefit will receive £305.10 (higher rate)
Scottish Child Payment - £27.15 weekly payment
This will be a payment of £27.15 per week, per child from April - £108.60 every four weeks - to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child) - £767.50
This is a one-off payment of up to £767.50 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment - £383.75
The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be wroth £383.75 in 2025.26 - find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - £319.80
This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment - £319.80
This is a one-off payment of £319.80 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits - find out more here.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food - find out more here.
The 2025/26 weekly payment rates are:
Higher rate - £10.80
Lower rate - £5.40
Funeral Support Payment
This is money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral. The current average payout is £1,800 - find out more here.
Payment rates 2024/25:
Standard rate: £1,279.15
Lower rate: £156.10
Medical device removal rate: £25.80
Job Start Payment
This is a one-off payment for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job - find out more here.
Payment rates:
Higher rate: £511.65
Standard rate: £319.80
Child Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks
This is extra money - up to the value of £749 every four weeks in 2025/26 - to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
The 2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Lower care award: £29.20
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Adult Disability Payment - up to £749 every four weeks
This is extra money - worth between £116.80 and £749.80 every four weeks - to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP - find out more here.
2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Pension Age Disability Payment - up to £441 every four weeks
Pension Age Disability Payment will replace Attendance Allowance by the end of 2025. It is currently available to new claimants living in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland. A further 13 council areas will launch the benefit in March before it rolls out nationwide in April.
People living in Scotland will receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week - the same rate as Attendance Allowance. it will be paid every four weeks - £295.60, or £441.60 per pay period.
Pension Age Disability Payment will support older people who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. Find out more about the new payment here.
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - up to £749 every four weeks
This is a closed benefit, which means nobody can apply for it and is only for pensioners on Disability Living Allowance transferring from the DWP - find out more here.
2025/26 weekly payment rates
Daily living
Lower care award: £29.20
Standard: £73.90
Enhanced: £110.40
Mobility
Standard: £29.20
Enhanced: £77.05
Young Carer Grant - £390.25 annual payment
This is an annual payment of £390.25 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more - find out more here.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement - £293.50 paid twice a year
This is an automatic payment of £293.50 made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
The first payment of 2025 will be made in June and the next in December - find out more here.
Carer Support Payment - £83.30 weekly payment
Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer's Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and will be worth £83.30 each week, some £333.20 every four week pay period. Full details about the new benefit can be found here.
