Welfare

North Lanarkshire Council has added a further £500,000 to its Universal Credit Assistance Fund and is providing more help to tenants falling into rent arrears due to built-in waiting times for Universal Credit payments. The fund, which is in place for council tenants struggling with the impact

The latest figures from the Scottish Fiscal Commission estimate that 194,000 children aged under six in Scotland will be eligible for the new Scottish Child Payment. This is an increase of 14% in eligible children since the Scottish Government’s forecast in June 2019, accounting for the increa

North Lanarkshire’s advice services generated more than £40 million in additional benefit income for its residents during 2019/20.

The Scottish Parliament has issued a call for views to discover how COVID-19 has impacted people in Scotland and how Scottish social security can respond.

The Scottish Government yesterday laid legislation to enable the delivery of the new Child Winter Heating Assistance. It is the first disability benefit to be introduced using new social security powers.

Councils in Scotland could have spent £5.8 million more to help people over lockdown if it were to match the increased Scottish Welfare Fund provided by the Scottish Government at the outset of the crisis, according to a new report.

Low-income families in Scotland with a child under six will be able to apply for £10 per child, per week to assist with living costs from November, with payments to start from the end of February.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced yesterday that from Monday, face to face advice provision can resume for welfare, debt and income maximisation purposes as Scotland remains in Phase 3 of its coronavirus lockdown. From 24 August organised outdoor contact sports, some outdoor live ev

A fundamental review of disability assistance must be initiated by the Scottish Government during the next parliament, according to a coalition of organisations campaigning for long-term improvements to social security for disabled people.  Following the devolution of powers over 

A new benefit to support 16 to 24-year-olds into work if they have been unemployed for six months will open for applications today. Job Start Payment is a one-off £250 payment to help with the costs of starting a new job. The upper age limit rises to 25 for care leavers and the payment rises t

The number of Scottish households hit by the benefit cap increased by 76% in the first two months of lockdown, according to new statistics released by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government yesterday.

Shelter Scotland has reiterated its call for an extension to the current eviction protections amid a 40% increase in applications for crisis grants. New figures from the Scottish Welfare Fund show there were 21,709 applications for crisis grants in June 2020, and a total spend of £1,310,8

Feeling Strong, a Dundee-based youth mental health charity, is creating two exciting new resources for children, guardians and young people who are facing mental health challenges.  Dundee is in the midst of an ongoing mental health crisis, in desperate need for mental health services and resou

Age Scotland is offering free benefit checks for over 75s to help people find out if they are eligible for Pension Credit.

A new Universal Credit system which will see social landlords receive direct rent payments on the same day that tenants are paid the rest of their benefits is to be rolled out from next month, the UK Government has announced.