What are the new benefits introduced under the SNP?
Social Security Scotland currently administers 10 benefits – 7 of these are new and unique within the UK.
- Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £600 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby reaches 6 months for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £250 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Grant School Age Payment – one off payment of £250 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits.
- Best Start Foods – a prepaid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three, for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food.
- Carer’s Allowance Supplement – an automatic payment made twice a year to carers to increase the value of Carers Allowance by 13%, benefitting around 83,000 of Scotland’s unpaid carers.
- Funeral Support Payment – money towards the costs of a funeral, at a difficult time like this, for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral, averaging at £1500 per payment.
- Job Start Payment – £250 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job.
- Young Carer Grant – A yearly £300 payment for young carers to improve quality of life, helping them take part in employment, social or leisure opportunities.
- Child Winter Heating Assistance – a £200 payment to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children to heat their homes.
- Scottish Child Payment – gives eligible families on low incomes with children under 6 an extra £10 per week for each child. It is planned to be fully rolled out to children under the age of 16 by the end of 2022 and for payments to double to £20 per week by the end of the parliament.