Release 2.0Children’s Handbook Scotland | 2023/24The authorAcknowledgementsHow to use this HandbookStructure of the HandbookAbbreviationsBenefit ratesUniversal credit ratesMeans-tested benefit ratesNon-means-tested benefitsTax credit ratesChapter 1: Benefits and tax credits1. IntroductionBenefit cap2. Adult disability paymentWho can get adult disability paymentDisability test: daily living and mobility componentsAmount of benefit3. Attendance allowanceWho can get attendance allowanceDisability testAmount of benefit4. Best Start grantPregnancy and baby paymentEarly learning paymentSchool-age paymentResponsible for the child5. Carer’s allowanceWho can get carer’s allowanceThe disabled person’s benefitBreaks from caringOverlapping benefitsCarer element, carer premium and carer additionAmount of benefitCarer's allowance supplement6. Child benefitWho can get child benefitWho counts as a childWho counts as a qualifying young personRelevant educationApproved trainingExtension periodTerminal dateResponsible for a childPriority between claimantsAmount of benefit7. Child disability paymentWho can get child disability paymentDisability test: care componentDisability test: mobility componentAmount of benefit8. Council tax reductionWho can get council tax reductionAmount of reductionStep one: calculate maximum council tax reductionStep two: if you get some means-tested benefitsStep three: if you do not get these means-tested benefitsStep four: work out your weekly incomeStep five: calculate your council tax reduction9. Disability living allowanceWho can get disability living allowanceDisability test: care componentDisability test: mobility componentAmount of benefit10. Employment and support allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowanceWho can get income-related employment and support allowanceAmount of benefitStep one: work out your capitalStep two: work out your applicable amountStep three: work out your weekly incomeStep four: deduct weekly income from applicable amountContributory employment and support allowanceWho can get contributory employment and support allowanceAmount of benefit11. Funeral support paymentWho can get a funeral support payment12. Guardian’s allowanceWho can get guardian’s allowanceWho is an eligible childParents and adoptive parentsAmount of benefit13. Health benefitsWho is exempt from chargesQualifying benefitsExempt groupsLow income schemeBest Start foods14. Housing benefitWho can get housing benefitWho cannot get housing benefitAmount of benefitStep one: calculate the maximum housing benefitStep two: deduct amounts for non-dependants from maximum housing benefitStep three: if you get means-tested benefitsStep four: if you do not get means-tested benefitsStep five: work out your weekly incomeStep six: calculate your housing benefitDiscretionary housing payments15. Income supportWho can get income supportGroups of people who can get income supportAmount of benefitStep one: work out your capitalStep two: work out your applicable amountStep three: work out your weekly incomeStep four: deduct weekly income from applicable amount16. Jobseeker’s allowanceIncome-based jobseeker’s allowanceWho can get income-based jobseeker’s allowanceAmount of benefitContribution-based jobseeker’s allowanceWho can get contribution-based jobseeker’s allowanceAmount of benefit17. Pension creditWho can get pension creditPension ageAmount of benefitGuarantee creditStep one: calculate your appropriate minimum guaranteeStep two: work out your weekly incomeStep three: deduct income from appropriate minimum guaranteeSavings credit18. Personal independence paymentWho can get personal independence paymentDisability conditionsAmount of benefit19. Scottish child paymentWho can get Scottish child paymentResponsible for a childQualifying benefitsPriority between claimantsAmount of benefit20. The Scottish Welfare FundCrisis grantsCommunity care grants21. Statutory adoption payWho can get statutory adoption payAmount of benefit22. Tax creditsChild tax creditWho can get child tax creditAmount of child tax creditWorking tax creditWho can get working tax creditAmount of working tax creditChanges of circumstances and tax credits23. Universal creditWho can get universal creditAmount of benefitStep one: capitalStep two: work out your maximum amountStep three: work out your earnings and how much can be ignoredStep four: work out your other income and how much can be ignoredStep five: calculate your total incomeStep six: calculate your universal credit entitlementClaimant commitmentMonthly assessment periodChapter 2: Claims, decisions and challenges1. How to claim benefits and tax creditsInformation to support your claimBackdating2. Decisions and delaysInterim payments and short-term advancesPayments on account of housing benefitCrisis grants3. Challenging decisions and complaintsAppealsHow to appealComplaintsDepartment for Work and Pensions complaintsHM Revenue and Customs complaintsUsing your MPSocial Security Scotland complaintsLocal authority complaintsComplaining to the OmbudsmanCompensation paymentsJudicial reviewChapter 3: Children in hospital1. Child benefit and guardian’s allowance2. Means-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome support and income-based jobseeker’s allowanceIf you do not get amounts for your childIf you still get amounts for your childIf your child is in hospital for more than 52 weeksIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionIf your child is in hospital for more than 52 weeksScottish child payment3. Non-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTime off from caringCarer element, carer premium and carer addition4. Tax creditsThe amount of tax credits5. Help visiting your childChapter 4: Disabled children in care homes1. Benefits and tax credits for children in care homesChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome support and income-based jobseeker’s allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsAmount of tax creditsHelp visiting your child2. More than one stay in a care homeLinking rules3. When your child comes homeChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome support and income-based jobseeker’s allowanceHousing benefit and council tax reductionNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChapter 5: Disabled children at residential school1. Child benefit and guardian’s allowance2. Means-tested benefitsUniversal creditIf your child is not looked after by the local authorityIf your child is looked after by the local authorityIncome support and income-based jobseeker’s allowanceIf your child is not looked after by the local authorityIf your child is looked after by the local authorityIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionIf your child is not looked after by the local authorityIf your child is looked after by the local authorityScottish child payment3. Non-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsIf your child comes home temporarilyCarer’s allowanceTime off from caringIf your child comes home temporarilyCarer element, carer premium or carer addition4. Tax creditsThe amount of tax credits5. Help visiting your childChapter 6: Children who are 'looked after and accommodated'1. Benefits and tax credits for children who are 'looked after and accommodated'Child benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome support and jobseeker’s allowanceIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsOther benefitsHealth benefits2. When your child comes homeChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome support and jobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChapter 7: Children living with kinship carers1. What is kinship care2. Financial help from the local authoritySection 22 paymentsSection 50 paymentsRegulation 33/Section 110 paymentsKinship care allowances guidanceImpact on benefits and tax credits3. Benefits and tax credits if a child is not looked afterChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceChild benefitGuardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome supportIncome-related employment and support allowanceJobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChild tax creditWorking tax creditThe effect of local authority paymentsOther benefitsScottish Welfare Fund paymentsBest Start grantHealth benefits4. Benefits and tax credits if a child is looked afterChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome supportIncome-related employment and support allowanceJobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability paymentCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChild tax creditWorking tax creditNational insurance creditsOther benefitsChapter 8: Children living with foster carers1. What is foster carePublic fosteringPrivate fostering2. Benefits and tax credits for foster carersChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome supportEmployment and support allowanceJobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChild tax creditWorking tax creditNational insurance creditsChapter 9: Adoption1. Adoption allowances2. Benefits and tax credits when a child is placed with you for adoptionChild benefitStatutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory shared parental payStatutory adoption payStatutory paternity payStatutory shared parental payMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome supportIncome-related employment and support allowanceIncome-based jobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability payment and disability living allowanceCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChild tax creditWorking tax creditOther benefitsBest Start grant3. Benefits and tax credits once you have adopted a childChild benefitStatutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory shared parental payMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome supportEmployment and support allowanceIncome-related jobseeker’s allowancePension creditHousing benefit and council tax reductionScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability payment and disability living allowanceCarer’s allowanceTax creditsChild tax creditWorking tax creditOther benefitsBest Start grantHealth benefitsChapter 10: Young people leaving care1. Universal creditExceptions2. Other benefitsIncome support, income-based jobseeker's allowance and housing benefitHealth benefitsBest Start grant and Best Start foodsScottish Welfare Fund paymentsOther benefits and tax credits3. Financial support from the local authority for 16/17-year-old care leaversWho can get financial supportThe amount of helpHow you are paidTreatment of local authority payments for benefits4. Other help from the local authorityHelp with accommodationSupport once you are 18Using local authority payments to pay your carer5. Other help6. Challenging local authority decisionsDecisions you can challengeHow to appealThe appeal processThe decisionWithdrawing your appealFurther appealsAppendix 1: Useful addresses and contactsGovernment departmentsComplaintsOther organisationsAppendix 2: Abbreviations used in the notesIndex