Release 1.10Children’s Handbook Scotland 2025/26IndexAuthor & acknowledgementsHow to use this HandbookAbbreviationsMeans-tested benefit rates 2025/26Non-means-tested benefit rates 2025/26Chapter 1: Benefits1. 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 support paymentWho can get carer support paymentThe disabled person's benefitBreaks from caringOverlapping benefitsCarer element, carer premium and carer additionAmount of benefit6. 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. Employment and support allowanceContributory employment and support allowanceWho can get contributory employment and support allowanceAmount of benefit9. Funeral support paymentWho can get a funeral support payment10. Guardian’s allowanceWho can get guardian’s allowanceWho is an eligible childParents and adoptive parentsAmount of benefit11. Health benefitsWho is exempt from chargesQualifying benefitsExempt groupsLow income schemeBest Start foods12. Housing benefitWho can get housing benefitWho cannot get housing benefitAmount of benefitStep 1: calculate the maximum housing benefitStep 2: deduct amounts for non-dependants from maximum housing benefitStep 3: if you get means-tested benefitsStep 4: if you do not get means-tested benefitsStep 5: work out your weekly incomeStep 6: calculate your housing benefitDiscretionary housing payments13. Pension age disability paymentWho can get pension age disability paymentTerminal illnessDisability testAmount of benefit14. Pension creditWho can get pension creditPension ageAmount of benefitGuarantee creditStep 1: calculate your appropriate minimum guaranteeStep 2: work out your weekly incomeStep 3: deduct income from appropriate minimum guaranteeSavings credit15. Scottish child paymentWho can get Scottish child paymentResponsible for a childQualifying benefitsPriority between claimantsAmount of benefit16. The Scottish Welfare FundCrisis grantsCommunity care grants17. Statutory adoption payWho can get statutory adoption payAmount of benefit18. Universal creditWho can get universal creditAmount of benefitStep 1: capitalStep 2: work out your maximum amountStep 3: work out your earnings and how much can be ignoredStep 4: work out your other income and how much can be ignoredStep 5: calculate your total incomeStep 6: calculate your universal credit entitlementClaimant commitmentMonthly assessment periodChapter 2: Claims, decisions and challenges1. How to claim benefitsInformation to support your claimBackdating2. Decisions and delaysInterim payments and short-term advancesPayments on account of housing benefitCrisis grants3. Challenging decisions and complaintsAppealsHow to appealComplaintsDWP complaintsHMRCUsing 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-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitIf your child is in hospital for more than 52 weeksScottish child payment3. Non-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentTime off from caringCarer element, carer premium and carer addition4. Help visiting your child5. Young Patients Family FundChapter 4: Disabled children in care homes1. Benefits for children in care homesChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentHelp visiting your child2. More than one stay in a care homeLinking rules3. When your child comes homeChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentChapter 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-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitIf 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 support paymentTime off from caringIf your child comes home temporarilyCarer element, carer premium or carer addition4. Help visiting your childChapter 6: Children who are 'looked after and accommodated'1. Benefits for children who are 'looked after and accommodated'Child benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentOther benefitsHealth benefits2. When your child comes homeChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditPension creditHousing benefitNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentChapter 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 benefits3. Benefits if a child is not looked afterChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceChild benefitGuardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentOther benefitsScottish Welfare Fund paymentsBest Start grant4. Benefits if a child is looked afterChild benefit and guardian’s allowanceMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditIncome-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability payment and other disability benefitsCarer support paymentNational insurance creditsOther benefitsChapter 8: Children living with foster carers1. What is foster carePublic fosteringPrivate fostering2. Benefits for foster carersChild benefitMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditEmployment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsDisability benefitsCarer support paymentNational insurance creditsChapter 9: Adoption1. Adoption allowances2. Benefits 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-related employment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability paymentCarer support paymentOther benefitsBest Start grant3. Benefits once you have adopted a childChild benefitStatutory adoption pay, statutory paternity pay and statutory shared parental payMeans-tested benefitsUniversal creditEmployment and support allowancePension creditHousing benefitScottish child paymentNon-means-tested benefitsChild disability paymentCarer support paymentOther benefitsBest Start grantHealth benefitsChapter 10: Young people leaving care1. Universal creditExceptions2. Other benefitsHousing benefitHealth benefitsBest Start grant and Best Start foodsScottish Welfare Fund paymentsOther benefits3. 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: Abbreviations used in the notes