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Children's Handbook Scotland | 2024/25

2. Other benefits

• Income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit
• Health benefits
• Best Start grant and Best Start foods
• Scottish Welfare Fund payments
• Other benefits and tax credits

Income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit

Note: young people who need to claim a means-tested benefit now have to claim universal credit (UC – see here). The rules about income support (IS), income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) and housing benefit (HB) are no longer relevant for young care leavers. The rules for IS, income-based JSA and HB are very similar to the UC rules, with some minor differences. For a full explanation of the rules, see the 13th edition of this Handbook.

Health benefits

There are fixed charges for some NHS items and services. Care leavers who are receiving financial support from the local authority under section 29(1) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 (see here) are exempt from these charges.1Regs 3-5 NHS(TERC)(S) Regs Note: dental treatment is free for all young people under 26.

Charges covered are for:

•glasses/contact lenses (a voucher is issued to cover the cost of the glasses/lenses you require – this may not cover the cost of those you choose to buy);
•travel to hospital for treatment.

Complete Form HC1(SC) to apply. You should then get an HC2 certificate showing you are exempt from charges. This lasts up to your 18th birthday or for one year, whichever is longest. If you are still entitled when the certificate runs out (ie, because you are still under 18 and still being supported by the local authority), make a new claim.

If you are a care leaver who does not receive regular financial support from the local authority, you may also be entitled to help with NHS fixed charges if you are on a qualifying benefit such as UC (with earnings below a specified level) or on the grounds of low income (see Chapter 1).

 

1     Regs 3-5 NHS(TERC)(S) Regs »

Best Start grant and Best Start foods

If you are pregnant or have a baby, you may be able to get a Best Start grant pregnancy and baby payment (see here). If you are under 18, you do not have to be receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’ to be entitled to a pregnancy and baby payment.

If you are pregnant or have a child under three, you may be able to get a Best Start foods payment card (see here). If you are under 18, you do not have to be receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’ to be entitled to a Best Start foods payment card.

Scottish Welfare Fund payments

Care leavers who are on a low income may be able to get a community care grant or crisis grant from the Scottish Welfare Fund. A community care grant may be particularly important to help with the costs of setting up home (see here).

Other benefits and tax credits

There are no special rules for care leavers for benefits or tax credits, other than UC (or IS, income-based JSA or HB) and health benefits. If you are entitled to another benefit, such as adult disability payment, you can claim in the usual way (see Chapter 1).