Scottish Government

New help for people fleeing a crisis Social Security Scotland has introduced new, long-term rules to help people who come to Scotland because of a crisis in another country.  These rules make it easier and quicker for people to get the support they need when they arrive. They replace the need for special emergency laws each […]

Financial help available for funerals during winter. Those who lose someone over the winter months are encouraged to apply for support to help with funeral costs. Funeral Support Payment is delivered by Social Security Scotland and is available to people living in Scotland who receive certain benefits. The payment can help cover some of the

People urged to apply for School Age Payment before February deadline. Parents and carers in Scotland have until midnight on 28 February 2026 to apply for over £300 of support for children when they are old enough to start primary school. School Age Payment is worth £319.80 for each child to help with the cost of preparing

Published: 28 January 2026For welfare rights and money advice professionals Frontline advisers may soon see changes to the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) appeals process, following renewed pressure on the Scottish Government to commence key legislative provisions aimed at reducing unnecessary delays. The Social Justice and Social Security Committee has formally written to the Cabinet Secretary

Social security support can make a difference to lives. Social Security Scotland helped over 960,000 people receive the money they were entitled to in financial year 2024/25. The organisation now delivers 17 benefit payments, including support for families on low incomes, disabled people, pensioners, young people looking for work and unpaid carers. There is also financial help

Two-child limit mitigation funding for 2025-26 reinvested to tackle child poverty. More support will be available to families and households to help cover the cost of life’s essentials and to deal with emergencies. First Minister John Swinney has confirmed that £10 million originally earmarked in 2025-26 to support the two-child limit mitigation payment in Scotland

Edinburgh, 16 December 2025 — The Scottish Government has confirmed it will not proceed with the planned Two-Child Limit Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026, following the UK Government’s decision to abolish the two-child limit on Universal Credit from April 2026. In a letter dated 3 December 2025, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville stated that

Published14 November 2025 Social Justice Secretary urges Chancellor to remove two-child limit and benefit cap. Ahead of a series of meetings in London today with child poverty charities, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to take action to tackle child poverty in its forthcoming Budget, including immediately scrapping the two-child limit