Scottish Government urges people to check for unclaimed money to help with cost of living

dailyrecord.co.uk:

People are being encouraged to check they are not missing out on extra money and to find out if they could be eligible for any of the benefits administered by Social Security Scotland - some of which are only available in Scotland.The benefits, which have been introduced over the past four years, are available to people on low incomes responsible for children under 16, those who need help paying for a funeral, people living with a disability, carers, young people entering the workplace and householders needing help to heat their homes.The good news is that four of these payments are made automatically to people in receipt of other qualifying benefits.

To make sure people are maximising their income, Social Security Scotland also suggests that people should check what benefits they may be entitled to from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).Payments made automatically include Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Child Winter Heating Payment as well as Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and Best Start Grant School Age Payment for those in receipt of Scottish Child Payment.

In addition, the new Winter Heating Payment will be paid automatically to an expected 400,000 people across Scotland when it is introduced in February.Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “January is traditionally a month where people find it harder financially than the rest of the year.

This pressure can be more acute for people on low incomes or who face additional costs due to a disability or ill-health condition.