Social Security Scotland will deliver 17 benefits and one-off payments this year.
People in Scotland claiming devolved benefits or one-off payments will see the amount of money they receive increase by 3.8 per cent from April 6. This includes Adult, Child and Pension Age Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment and the Scottish Child Payment.
It’s important to be aware that while the new payment rates start on April 6, nearly all benefits are paid four weeks in arrears, which means most people will not see the full uprating until May. Most people will receive a blend of old and new rates until one full payment cycle has passed after April 6.
Social Security Scotland delivers 17 devolved payments, including Pension Age Winter Heating Payment which has replaced Winter Fuel Payments north of the border. This annual payment will be worth between £105.55 and £316.70 in winter 2026/27 – considerably higher than its counterpart south of the border, Winter Fuel Payment, which is worth between £100 and £300.
READ MORE: Scottish Child Payment boost for thousands of parents from AprilREAD MORE: New DWP update on April pay rise for people on State Pension or benefits
More than 94,000 unpaid carers are also set to receive an extra payment from this month. Letters will start going out on March 16 explaining how the bi-annual Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be replaced with the Scottish Carer Supplement.
The Scottish Government said the change means carers will receive the extra support more consistently and regularly. Payments of £11.29 will be issued automatically every four weeks, which means nobody needs to claim the new benefit.
The payment will rise to £11.70 per week from April 6 and will provide unpaid carers with an extra £609.30 over the 2026/27 financial year. Thai is the same amount of money that would have been issued through Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
Devolved benefits and payment rates 2026/27
Below is everything you need to know about devolved benefits and payments in Scotland. The full list of proposed new payment rates can be found on GOV.SCOT.
Winter Heating Payment – £62.00 annual payment
This annual payment replaced the Cold Weather Payment delivered by DWP in 2023 and will be worth £62.00 in winter 2026/27. 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 – £265.50 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 £265.50 in winter 2026/27.
This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment – find out more here.
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment – between £105.55 and £316.70 annual payment
Pension Age Winter Heating Payment is designed to help people of State Pension age with higher energy bills during the colder months. It replaces Winter Fuel payments for pensioners with a Scottish postcode.
Winter 2026/27 payment rates:
- Pensioners in residential care – £105.55
- Single pensioners aged between 66 and 79 – £211.15
- Single pensioners aged 80 and over – £316.70
- Pensioner couples aged between 66 and 79 – £105.55
- Pensioner couples aged 80 and over – £158.35
Scottish Child Payment – £28.20 weekly payment
This will be a payment of £28.20 per week, per child from April – £112.80 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.
This is a separate payment to Child Benefit – delivered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) – for families in Scotland only.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment (first child) – £796.65
This will be a one-off payment of up to £796.65 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 – £398.35
The Subsequent Child Payment and Multiple Pregnancy Supplement payment will be worth £398.35 in 2026/27 – find out more here.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – £331.95
This will be a one-off payment of £331.95 in 2026/27 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 – £331.95
This will be a one-off payment of £331.95 in 2026/27 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 weekly payment rates for 2026/27 are:
- Higher rate – £11.20
- Lower rate – £5.60
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 in 2026/27:
- Higher rate: £1,327.75
- Lower rate: £162.05
- Medical device removal rate: £26.80
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 in 2026/27:
- Higher rate: £531.10
- Standard rate: £331.95
Child Disability Payment – up to £778 every four weeks
This is extra money – up to the value of £778.40 every four weeks in 2026/27 – 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.
Weekly payment rates from April
Daily living
- Lower care award: £30.30
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Adult Disability Payment – up to £778 every four weeks
This is extra money – worth between £121.20 and £778.40 every four weeks in 2026/27 – 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.
Weekly payment rates
Daily living
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Pension Age Disability Payment – up to £458 every four weeks
Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced all new and existing claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland.
People living in Scotland-only will receive either £76.70 or £114.60 each week in 2026/27 – the same rate as Attendance Allowance. It will be paid every four weeks – £306.80, or £458.40 per pay period.
Pension Age Disability Payment can 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 £778 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.
Weekly payment rates in 2026/27
Daily living
- Lower care award: £30.30
- Standard: £76.70
- Enhanced: £114.60
Mobility
- Standard: £30.30
- Enhanced: £80.00
Young Carer Grant – £405.10 annual payment
This annual payment will be worth £405.10 in 2026/27 for youngsters aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 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 – £304.65 paid twice a year
This is an automatic payment of £304.65 that will be made twice this year to people in receipt of Carer Support Payment on certain qualifying dates each year.
The final payment of 2026 will be issued in June with the second due in December – find out more here.
Carer Support Payment – £86.45 weekly payment
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance for new and existing claimants in Scotland and will be worth £86.45 each week from April, some £345.80 every four week pay period. Full details about the benefit can be found here.
