Social Security Scotland confirms extension of benefit application time limits for devolved benefits where delay is due to COVID-19

Amended rules apply to late applications for Best Start grant payments, young carer grants and funeral support payments

Social Security Scotland has confirmed that devolved benefit application time limits have been extended where the delay in applying is due to COVID-19.

Highlighting that the Coronavirus (Scotland) Act 2020 was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 1 April 2020, Social Security Scotland advises that Scottish Ministers have exercised the power to relax social security assistance application deadlines - introduced by amendments set out in Schedule 7(4) to the Act - so that claimants who apply for assistance outside the normal eligibility time limits after 7 April 2020 may still be treated as eligible, provided they have explained that the reason for lateness is due to COVID-19.

In particular, Social Security Scotland advises that the relaxation of application deadlines affects -

• pregnancy and baby payment - applications can potentially be made up to the day a child turns one (six months older than under general rules), or one year and six months for an application from a kinship carer; in addition, automatic entitlement for those under 18 may be extended for applications after their 18th birthday if COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t get their application in on time;
• early learning payment - eligibility is increased up to a child’s fourth birthday (six months older than under normal rules); as with the pregnancy and baby payment, those over 18 may be able to establish automatic entitlement if COVID-19 caused a delay;
• school-age payment - as with the pregnancy and baby payment and the early learning payment, automatic eligiblility may still be established after a claimant's 18th birthday if COVID-19 meant that they couldn’t get their application in on time;
• young carer grant - claimants can remain eligible after they turn 19; and
• funeral support payment - late applications outside the six months limit following a funeral. can be accepted if the reason for delay is in relation to COVID-19.

In addition, Social Security Scotland advises that, while it is working on putting these changes into place, claimants - 

'... may receive automatic prompts advising that they are not eligible but they should continue with their applications and, given they have a reasonable delay relating to COVID-19, their application will still be considered.'

For more information see Making sure people impacted by COVID-19 get our support from gov.uk