Guidance for Scotland
Councils and health and social care partnerships arrange support. Self-directed Support offers four ways to exercise choice and control.
Where to begin
- Ask the council for an assessment focused on personal outcomes.
- Use the Care Inspectorate for regulated care services.
- Pension Age Disability Payment replaces new Attendance Allowance claims.
- Equipment and adaptation funding follows Scottish arrangements, not DFG.
Visual guides
See the decision at a glance
- Contact the councilAsk the social work service for assessment and explain urgent risk, communication needs and outcomes.
- Plan supportRequest the written decision, personal outcomes, self-directed-support options and review date.
- Understand chargesAsk for current written charging information, including free personal or nursing care where applicable.
- Challenge or complainUse the council process, advocacy and Scottish Public Services Ombudsman routes as appropriate.
Care and funding
Ask the responsible council or health and social-care body for an assessment before assuming you must arrange everything privately. Request the written eligibility, care-plan and charging decisions.
Benefits and legal planning
Use the official benefit and legal documents for Scotland. Do not copy forms, thresholds or terminology from another UK nation.
Complaints and safeguarding
Start with the service or commissioning body. Ask for its written complaints route and raise immediate abuse, neglect or danger through the local safeguarding or emergency route.
Urgent health help
Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency. For other urgent problems use the official NHS urgent-care service operating in Scotland; local arrangements can differ.
Official starting points
Guides that apply here
These have been selected for Scotland; guides that apply only in another UK nation are not shown.
Direct payments for care: choice, spending and responsibilities
Learn how direct payments work, what a care budget can fund, employer duties, record keeping, backup cover and the four nations’ different systems.
Useful if: For people with assessed social-care needs who want control over arranging support, and family members or advocates helping manage a payment with consent.
Read the guideFinancial assessment for care: income, savings and your home
Prepare for a UK care financial assessment, understand 2026/27 capital limits, income, property disregards and how deprivation of assets is considered.
Useful if: For people planning or receiving council-funded home support or a care-home placement, and relatives helping organise records or question a contribution decision.
Read the guideCarer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment: rates and rules
Carer’s Credit may protect your National Insurance record when caring affects paid work; check its eligibility separately from carer benefits.
Useful if: For unpaid carers balancing work, caring and their own income, and for the person they support who wants to understand how a claim affects household benefits.
Read the guidePower of attorney in Scotland (LPA): forms, fees and rules
Power of attorney in Scotland uses continuing and welfare powers, not the England-and-Wales LPA; learn about certificates, registration and alternatives.
Useful if: Adults in Scotland planning who should manage their finances or welfare if illness, disability or an accident makes support necessary.
Read the guide