Benefits and Financial Support

Attendance Allowance

You may be entitled to Attendance Allowance if you are over 65 years old and need help with your personal care because you are physically or mentally disabled. Visit the UK Government website for more information on Attendance Allowance.

Carers Allowance

If you're 16 or over and care for someone for more than 35 hours per week, you may be able to claim Carers Allowance. Full details of eligibility criteria for Carers Allowance can be found on the UK Government website. Claiming Carers Allowance can affect other benefits of both the carer and the person being cared for.

Carers Allowance Supplement

This is an extra payment for people in Scotland who get Carers Allowance on a particular date. Carers Allowance Supplement is paid two times in a year. More details on Carers Support Supplement can be found on the Scottish Government webpage.

Community Care Grant

This will help you cope financially if you have special difficulties and require goods such as furniture and appliances. Cash payment are made in certain circumstances. You can find out more information, including who is eligible and how to apply, on the Community Care Grant section of our website.

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax Reduction helps people with low income to pay their Council Tax. We assess how much you are entitled to based on your income, savings and the number of people living in your household. You can find out if you are eligible and how to apply on our Council Tax Reduction webpage.

Crisis Grant

A Crisis Grant is a sum of money that can help cover costs of essentials in times of crisis. You can find out more information including who is eligible and how to apply on the Crisis Grant webpage.

Free TV Licence

If you are over 75 and receive Pension Credit you do not have to pay the annual fee for a TV Licence. Find out more, including how to apply for a free tv licence, on the TV Licensing website.

Funeral Support Payment

If you are on a low income and are responsible for the funeral of the deceased, you may qualify for a funeral support payment. You can find out more including how to apply on the Scottish Government's Funeral Support Payment webpage. You can also phone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 222.

Help paying your rent

Assistance is available through Discretionary Housing Payment and Housing Benefit. You can find information on eligibility, how to check entitlement and how to apply in the Housing benefits section of our website. If you receive Universal Credit housing element, you are not eligible for Housing Benefit but can apply for Discretionary Housing Payment.

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit

You can claim this if you are ill or disabed because of an accident or disease from work or an employment training scheme or course. Find out more information on Industrial Injuries and Disablement Benefit, including how to apply, on the UK Goverment website.

Pension credit

You can claim pension credit once you have reached state pension age. Check your state pension age on the UK Government website. You can find out how much pension credit you can get by using the pension credit calculator on the UK Government website. For more information and how to claim pension credit go to the UK Government website.  If you are entitled to Pension Credit, you will automatically be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment.

State Pension

You can claim your state pension as soon as you reach State Pension age. To find out more information on the State Pension, including how to claim, visit the UK Government website.

Warm Home Discount

You may be able to get a £150 discount on your electricity bill if you are in receipt of certain benefits as well as meet other criteria. You can find out more information about eligibility and how to apply by contacting your energy provider.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment replaces the UK Government’s Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland.  It is a single payment to provide older people with extra support to help meet increased heating costs during Winter.

Payments of £200 or £300 (depending on age) are sent to people who have reached state pension age and get one of the following benefits:

• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income Support
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit