Scottish social security up-rating regulations made

The Scottish Ministers made the Social Security (Up-rating) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 and the Social Security Up-rating (Scotland) Order 2026 on 24 March 2026, increasing the values and amounts of a range of Scottish assistance payments¹. Most of the new rates take effect on 6 April 2026, with some changes on 1 April, 5 April, 8 April and 9 April¹.

The Scottish child payment rises from £27.15 to £28.20¹. Best Start Foods increases from £5.40 to £5.60¹. The pregnancy and baby grant basic amount rises from £767.50 to £796.65, with the second head rising from £383.75 to £398.35, and the multiple pregnancy supplement also rising from £383.75 to £398.35¹. The early learning grant and school-age grant each rise from £319.80 to £331.95¹. The young carer grant rises from £390.25 to £405.10¹, and the child winter heating payment from £255.80 to £265.50¹. The winter heating payment rises from £59.75 to £62.00¹.

Disability and carer payments also change. Child disability payment higher rate rises from £110.40 to £114.60, the middle rate from £73.90 to £76.70, and the lower rate from £29.20 to £30.30¹. Adult disability payment follows the same pattern, with the daily living component rising from £73.90 to £76.70 and the mobility component from £110.40 to £114.60¹. Carer support payment rises from £83.30 to £86.45, and the carer's allowance earnings limit from £196 to £204¹. Attendance allowance rises from £110.40 to £114.60 at the higher rate and £73.90 to £76.70 at the lower rate². Pension age winter heating payment rises from £305.10 to £316.70 for the higher amount¹.

The regulations state:

Why it matters for households

People in Scotland receiving Scottish social security payments, including families with children, carers and disabled people, will see the amounts they receive change from April 2026. The Scottish child payment, paid to families on low incomes for each child, rises by £1.05 a week to £28.20¹. Carer support payment rises by £3.15 a week to £86.45¹. Disability payments for adults and children rise across their component rates¹. The carer's allowance earnings limit, which caps how much a carer can earn while claiming, rises from £196 to £204 a week¹. Best Start Foods, paid as a weekly amount towards healthy food, rises by 20p to £5.60¹. The winter heating payment and child winter heating payment, paid once a year, rise to £62.00 and £265.50 respectively¹. The funeral support payment rises from £1,279.15 to £1,327.75¹.

What happens next

Most of the increases take effect on 6 April 2026¹. Regulation 12(2) and (3) of the Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations come into force on 5 April 2026¹. Article 5 of the Up-rating Order, covering the rate for adult dependants payable with severe disablement allowance, comes into force on 9 April 2026². Where carer's allowance is paid on a Wednesday, the increase takes effect on 8 April 2026². Certain industrial injuries benefit increases also take effect on 8 April 2026².