Take-up Rates of Scottish Benefits: October 2025
This publication contains our latest estimates of take-up of Scottish benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland. An 'Easy Read' version of this publication is also available.
Take-Up Rate Estimates
Most recent estimates of take-up for each benefit are outlined below, with time series estimates for previous years in Table 1 and Table 2, showing how estimated take-up rates have changed over time.
Due to wide eligibility windows for some benefits and the need to ensure only people who have had their full eligibility window to apply are counted, there are some take-up rate estimates which are for years prior to 2024-25 (e.g. Best Start Grant Pregnancy & Baby payment and Early Learning Payment). However, for every benefit, this publication provides a new additional annual estimate to the year before.
Graphic text below:
- Scottish Child Payment had a 94% take-up rate in 2024-25.
- BSG: Pregnancy & Baby Payment had a 91% take-up rate in 2023-24.
- BSG: Early Learning Payment had an 87% take-up rate in 2022-23.
- BSG: School Age Payment had a 97% take-up rate in 2024-25.
- Best Start Foods had an 81% take-up rate in 2024-25.
- Young Carer Grant had an 80% take-up rate in 2024-25.
- Funeral Support Payment had a 61% take-up rate in 2024-25.
- Job Start Payment had a 19% take-up rate in 2024-25.
| Year | Scottish Child Payment | BSG: Pregnancy and Baby Payment | BSG: Early Learning Payment | BSG: School Age Payment | Best Start Foods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | .. | 83% | 85% | 73% | .. |
| 2020-21 | .. | 84% | 80% | 91% | 71% |
| 2021-22 | .. | 83% | 87% | 77% | 92% |
| 2022-23 | .. | 87% | 87% | 97% | 92% |
| 2023-24 | 89% | 91% | .. | 97% | 84% |
| 2024-25 | 94% | .. | .. | 97% | 81% |
| Year | Young Carer Grant | Job Start Payment | Funeral Support Payment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-20 | .. | .. | .. |
| 2020-21 | 68% | 30% | 49% |
| 2021-22 | 73% | 29% | 66% |
| 2022-23 | 75% | 15% | 61% |
| 2023-24 | 87% | 21% | 67% |
| 2024-25 | 80% | 19% | 61% |
Methodology
A detailed overview of the methodology used to estimate take-up rates is provided at the end of this publication.
Contact
Email: ceu@gov.scot