Scottish Government to increase some benefits by 6%

Some benefits in Scotland will be upped by 6% under Scottish Government plans.

The Job Start Payment, Young Carer’s Grant, Funeral Support, Best Start Grant, Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Child Winter Heading Assistance will all rise by 6%.

All of those – except for the Child Winter Heating Assistance – were due to rise by 3.1%.

But social security minister Ben Macpherson said the benefits would be increased in an attempt to mitigate the impending cost of living crisis.

“We are acting urgently in response to growing pressures on the costs of living, which were already rising and have now increased significantly again due to the illegal war in Ukraine,” he said.

“We will provide additional support as quickly as possible by further increasing several forms of devolved social security benefits and assistance – enhancing our planned 3.1% uprating to a 6% rise – and this will be implemented in just over two weeks’ time.

“The Scottish Government is determined to use the powers we have to move at pace to help those who need assistance most in these challenging times.

“The benefits we are uprating will support those on low incomes, particularly families and unpaid carers.”

Both the Adult Disability Payment and the Child Disability Payment will rise by 3.1% in a bid to prevent the creation of a two-tier system with other benefits administered by the UK Government.

The proposals are subject to parliamentary approval.