Responsibility for benefits: overview

An overview of which benefits are devolved to the Scottish Government and which remain reserved to the UK Government, following the Scotland Act 2016.


Benefits devolved to the Scottish Government

  • Ill Health and Disability Benefits:
    • Disability Living Allowance
    • Personal Independence Payment
    • Attendance Allowance
    • Severe Disablement Allowance
    • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Carers Allowance
  • Sure Start Maternity Grant (replaced by the Best Start Grant)
  • Funeral Expenses
  • Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments
  • Discretionary Housing Payments
  • Some powers in relation to Universal Credit (e.g. the ability to split payments between household members)

Benefits that remain reserved to the UK Government

  • Universal Credit, which replaces:
    • Jobseeker's Allowance
    • Employment Support Allowance
    • Income Support
    • Working Tax Credits
    • Child Tax Credits
    • Housing Benefit
  • Contributory Job Seeker's Allowance
  • Contributory Employment Support Allowance
  • Child Benefit
  • Maternity Allowance
  • State Pension
  • Pension Credit
  • Bereavement benefits:
    • Bereavement Allowance
    • Bereavement Payment
    • Widowed Parents Allowance

Contact

Email: ceu@gov.scot

Telephone: 0300 244 4000

Post:
Scottish Government
St Andrews House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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