Welfare

More than 210,000 children in Scotland will be trapped in poverty by 2030 without urgent investment from the Scottish Government, new analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research Scotland (IPPR Scotland) has warned.

A new benefit for pensioners is now open for applications in 13 more local authority areas in Scotland.   Pension Age Disability Payment has been extended to Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, Falkirk, Fife, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Perth and Kinross and Stir

Cairn Housing Association’s chief executive Audrey Simpson has spoken out against the UK government’s planned £5 billion welfare cuts, warning they will have devastating consequences for disabled people and those already struggling to make ends meet. The government’s proposal

Concerns have been raised about how people in Scotland could be impacted by plans announced by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall to cut £5 billion of UK government spending on welfare by the end of the decade. The measures, which the government argues are needed to “fi

The Scottish Government will invest nearly £2.2 million to enable the Wise Group to provide wrap-around support to individuals and families on low incomes in six local authority areas. The investment, from the Tackling Child Poverty Fund, was announced by social justice secretary Shirley-Anne

The families of 326,080 children under 16 years of age were receiving vital support from Scottish Child Payment as of 31 December 2024, according to new figures. More £1 billion has now been paid to parents and carers since the payment was introduced in February 2021.

A plan has been unveiled to tackle £70 million in unclaimed benefits in the Highland area.

Age Scotland has identified a record £2,116,447 of unclaimed benefits for older people who called the charity’s helpline in 2024 – an increase of 34% on the previous year. However, the Scottish charity for older people stressed that the amount could be the ‘tip of the iceberg

The Scottish Government is launching a consultation on its plans to end the two-child cap on benefits.

New analysis from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) finds that a combination of welfare reforms, rising numbers of children in the private rented sector and a lack of investment in building social housing has led, and will continue to lead, to increasing child poverty, unless the gover

Housing minister Paul McLennan has written to the UK Government calling on them to reverse the recent budget decision to keep rates at 2024-25 levels for the coming year. In his letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr McLennan said the move will further widen the gap between Local

Funding for local authorities to test and improve how they deliver wrap-around support for parents and families will be doubled to more than £6 million by the 2025-26 budget, the Scottish Government has revealed. Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the government's Fairer Fut

More than 456,000 people are due to receive inter Heating Payments totalling £26.8 million this winter, social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville will tell MSPs today. Updating the Scottish Parliament on support with fuel costs for people on low incomes, Ms Somerville will confirm the S

West Lothian Council has approved plans to reduce the priority level for Scottish Welfare Fund grants, which will mean more local people will be eligible. The council administers both Crisis and Community Care grants from the Scottish Welfare Fund, to support vulnerable West Lothian families. Crisis

Thousands of children from disadvantaged backgrounds will benefit from free breakfasts, thanks to £3 million from the Scottish Government. Announced in the draft Budget for 2025-26, Bright Start Breakfasts will help more primary school children get a healthy start to the day. The initiative wi