Scottish Government

For carers, disabled people and those who are ill

Attendance Allowance

To help with personal care for individuals aged 65 or over with a physical or mental disability.

Carers Allowance

To help an individual look after someone with substantial caring needs.  To be eligible the individual must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.

Disability Living Allowance

Help if your disability or health condition means one or both of the following are true:

• You need help looking after yourself
• You have walking difficulties

DLA is closed to new working age claimants and being replaced by PIP.

Personal Independence Payment

Helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or disability for individuals aged 16 to 64.  Replacement for DLA for working age individuals.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

For individuals who are ill or disabled as a direct result of an accident or disease caused by work or while you were on an approved employment training scheme or course.

Severe Disablement Allowance

For working age individuals who are unable to work due to illness or disability.  SDA is closed to new entrants.

Currently part of regulated social fund

Cold Weather Payment

A payment for individuals on certain benefits when the temperature if either recorded as or forecasted to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days. 

Funeral Payment

For individuals on low income and needing help to pay for a funeral they are arranging.

Sure Start Maternity Grant

A one off payment for £500 to help towards the costs of having your first child for individuals who are in receipt of certain benefits.   

Scottish Government have announced that this will be replaced with a new, expanded Best Start Grant.  This will pay qualifying families £600 on the birth of their first child and £300 on the birth of any second or subsequent children. Qualifying families will also receive £250 when each child begins nursery, and a further £250 when they start school.

Winter Fuel Payment

A tax-free payment to help pay for heating bills if you were born on or before 5 July 1952 (Current SPA for women).

Other

Discretionary Housing Payments

Additional help for those in receipt of Housing Benefit and having difficulty meeting their rent payments.  Paid at the discretion of the local authority.