NEWS: Changes afoot in the benefits system
After the independence referendum in 2014, plans were made for some powers over social security to be devolved to Scotland
Eleven benefits are being transferred, and the Scottish Government can also create new and top-up benefits.
The Scottish Government set up a user experience panel of over 2,400 people with experience of claiming social security, to work out how the new system could work better than the old one. They have said that the new agency, Social Security Scotland, will treat people with dignity, fairness and respect and will make every effort to be accessible to people with different communication needs.
Social Security Scotland is based in Glasgow and Dundee, with local staff across Scotland who can advise people about Scottish benefits. The agency has one main phone number, 0800 182 2222. People who need help to make a claim because they are living with a disability can be supported by taxpayer-funded advocacy from the charity Voiceability – www.voiceability.org
Benefits delivered so far include:
- Benefits that reduce child poverty
- Carer’s Allowance Supplement to top-up Carer’s Allowance
- Funeral Support Payment to help with the cost of a funeral
- Adult Disability Payment is replacing Personal Independence Payment
Next steps are:
2022 Adult Disability Payment is replacing Personal Independence Payment. People already receiving Personal Independence Payment will automatically be transferred onto Adult Disability Payment by summer 2024; they will receive letters from the Department for Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland to confirm the change. Our Adult Disability Payment guide explains more.
2022/2023 Low Income Winter Heating Assistance will replace the £25 Cold Weather Payments that were paid to people receiving Pension Credit if it was below freezing for a week locally. Instead of being linked to weather, this will be a one-off payment of £50 in February 2023.
2023/2024 Scottish Carer’s Assistance will start to replace Carer’s Allowance, with a Scotland-wide rollout and existing claims being transferred from 2024.
2024 Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance will replace the Winter Fuel Payment – the automatic payment made every autumn to people over 66.
By 2025 Pension Age Disability Payment will start to replace Attendance Allowance.
Find out more about social security entitlements for older people by:
- ordering copies of our free information guides
- calling the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222
- signing up for our online workshops www.age.scot/benefitsworkshop