People in work can receive support through payments administered by Social Security Scotland – including benefits designed to help low-income families.
Young people struggling to secure work because they can’t meet the costs of starting a new job are also being urged to make use of the Job Start Payment.
What benefits could I qualify for?
Figures show that one in three people in work also receive Universal Credit and could qualify for several other payments.
Social Security Scotland currently provides five family payments as well as Adult Disability payment, with qualification not based on employment or income and one-off payments including Winter Heating Payment and Funeral Support Payment.
What are the five family payments?
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment: This is a one off payment of up to £707.25. Available from 24 weeks in pregnancy until a baby turns six months for families who receive certain benefits.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment: A one off payment of £294.70 that’s available when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who receive certain benefits.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment: This one off payment of £294.70 is made to families on certain benefits when a child would normally start primary school.
Best Start Foods: A pre-payment card for families on certain benefits with funds to cover from pregnancy to when a child turns three to buy healthy food.
Scottish Child Payment: Families in receipt of certain benefits could receive £100 every four weeks to help towards the costs of looking after each child under the age of 16.
What other benefits are offered by Social Security Scotland?
Social Security Scotland also deliver a range of various other benefits, including:
Winter Heating Payment: A yearly payment to help people on low income benefits who may have additional heating needs during the winter. This year’s payment is £55.05.
Funeral Support Payment: This provides money towards funeral costs for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral.
Job Start Payment: This is a £294.70 payment to help 16-24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job.
Further information about all of the benefits provided by Social Security Scotland, including details of eligibility criteria, can be found here.
Payments can “make a difference”
Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley Ann Somerville has urged people across the country to check what benefits they could be eligible for.
“In January there are lots of people starting new jobs or returning to work for the first time in a while and I’d urge them to check what benefits they may be eligible for,” she said.
“I’d particularly highlight the support available to young people starting in work via Job Start Payment.
“This one-off payment can make a difference with the costs of getting up and running in a new job and again we want to make sure it reaches as many eligible people as possible.
“We are helping people across Scotland through the cost-of-living crisis by committing £6.1 billion in social security benefits and payments. That’s £1.1 billion more than the Block Grant Adjustment received due to spend on comparable benefits by the UK Government.”
