Scottish assistance payment amounts increase from 1 April 2025

The Scottish Ministers have increased the amounts paid under a range of devolved benefits, under the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, made on 27 March 2025¹. Most of the new amounts came into force on 1 April 2025, with regulation 13, covering Carer Support Payment, taking effect on 6 April 2025, and regulations 2, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16(3) taking effect on 7 April 2025¹.

The Scottish Child Payment rises from £26.70 to £27.15¹. Best Start Grant amounts change as follows: the pregnancy and baby grant basic amount rises from £754.65 to £767.50 in one case and from £377.35 to £383.75 in another, the multiple pregnancy supplement rises from £377.35 to £383.75, and both the early learning grant and the school-age grant rise from £314.45 to £319.80¹. Best Start Foods rises from £5.30 to £5.40¹.

The Funeral Support Payment changes include a rise from £1,257.75 to £1,279.15, from £25.35 to £25.80 and from £153.50 to £156.10¹. The Young Carer Grant rises from £383.75 to £390.25¹. The Child Winter Heating Payment rises from £251.50 to £255.80, and the Winter Heating Payment rises from £58.75 to £59.75¹. The Pension Age Winter Heating Payment rises from £300 to £305.10 in two cases and from £200 to £203.40 in a third¹.

Disability payment rates also change. Child Disability Payment amounts rise from £108.55 to £110.40, from £72.65 to £73.90, from £28.70 to £29.20, from £75.75 to £77.05 and from £28.70 to £29.20 across the listed provisions¹. Adult Disability Payment rises from £72.65 to £73.90, from £108.55 to £110.40, from £28.70 to £29.20 and from £75.75 to £77.05¹. Pension Age Disability Payment rises from £72.65 to £73.90 and from £108.55 to £110.40¹. Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance rises from £28.70 to £29.20, from £72.65 to £73.90, from £108.55 to £110.40, from £28.70 to £29.20 and from £75.75 to £77.05¹.

Carer Support Payment rises from £81.90 to £83.30, and its earnings limit rises from £151 to £196¹. The same £151 to £196 change applies to the earnings limit in the Carer's Allowance Regulations 1976¹.

The regulations also contain saving and transitional provisions. Where a Best Start Grant application was made on or after 1 April 2024 and before 1 April 2025, the previous provisions continue to have effect for determining the amount of assistance¹. Similar arrangements apply to Best Start Foods awards covering a period on or after 1 April 2024 and before 1 April 2025, and to Funeral Support Payment applications made in that window¹.

Why it matters for households

The changes set the amounts paid to people in Scotland who receive these devolved benefits. Most new rates apply from 1 April 2025, so awards covering periods from that date are calculated on the higher figures. Carer Support Payment amounts and its earnings limit change from 6 April 2025, and the disability payment rates listed in regulations 2, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16(3) change from 7 April 2025¹.

The earnings limit change matters to carers who work: the point at which earnings affect entitlement moves from £151 to £196 for both Carer Support Payment and Carer's Allowance¹. The transitional provisions mean some people whose applications or award periods fall before 1 April 2025 continue to have their payments worked out under the earlier rules¹.

What happens next

The regulations set out the commencement dates: 1 April 2025 for most provisions, 6 April 2025 for regulation 13 and 7 April 2025 for regulations 2, 9, 10, 11, 14 and 16(3)¹. No further changes have been reported.