Scottish Government

Services

• Acting on behalf of someone applying for benefits

  If you want to apply for a benefit on behalf of someone else, find out how.

• Add a porch to your house

  Information on whether you'll need planning permission to build a porch.

• Add an access ramp to your house

  Find out if you need to apply for planning permission to build an access ramp to your door.

• Add an extension to your house

  Find out whether your planned extension needs planning permission.

• Add decking to your house

  Information on whether you need planning permission to add decking or a platform to the outside of your home.

• Adopting a child from abroad

  Information on adopting a child from abroad (intercountry adoption) including how to adopt and where you can get support.

• Adult Disability Payment

  Information about Adult Disability Payment including payment rates, who should apply, how to apply, what happens after you apply and what to do if you disagree with a decision.

• Adult Disability Payment consultations

  Going to a consultation after your Adult Disability Payment application.

• After the verdict: victims and witnesses

  What happens after a verdict at court, including information on sentencing, appeals and the Victim Notification Scheme.

• Apply for Scotland's Redress Scheme

  Find out more about applying for Scotland's Redress Scheme and how to get help and support.

• Apply for or renew an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

  Apply for financial support to study at school or college if you're aged 16 to 19 and from a low income household.

• Apply to lease an accessible vehicle

  Lease a vehicle through the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme.

• Apply to offer a home to someone from Ukraine - Homes for Ukraine

  Apply to the Homes for Ukraine Super Sponsor Scheme

• Approved certification

  Information on Approved Certifiers for Design and Construction.

• Attach something to or alter the outside of your flat

  See if you need planning permission to add something to the wall outside your flat.

• Attach something to or alter the outside of your house

  See which additions to the external surface of your home need planning permission.

• Automated decision making

  What automated decision making is and how it works for each benefit.

• Background checks on new tenants

  Information for landlords on checks you can make on new tenants renting your property. Includes proof of identification checks, credit checks, references and guarantors.

• Breastfeeding and your business

  Find out the law around breastfeeding and how to become a breastfeeding friendly business.

• Build a gate, fence or wall around your flat

  Check to see if you need planning permission to build or improve a structure around your flat.

• Build a gate, fence or wall around your house

  Find out if you need planning permission to build a boundary around your home

• Build a shed, garage, greenhouse or other building at your house

  Information on the permitted development rules for an ancillary building.

• Building Standards for homeowners

  Find out what you need to do to meet Building Standards in Scotland.

• Building regulations

  Information on what the building regulations are and how to follow them when doing building or conversion work.

• Building your own home

  A guide to the whole process of building your home, from design and land purchase to builder hire, the build process itself and reclaiming VAT.

• Building, engineering and installation work at your house

  Information on planning permission for adding installations such as swimming pools or free-standing solar panels.

• Carer's Allowance Supplement

  Find information on Carer's Allowance Supplement, including what it is, who can get it and how it's paid.

• Carer’s Allowance changes in Scotland

  If you get Carer's Allowance and live in Scotland, your benefit will move to Carer Support Payment. This is happening between February 2024 and spring 2025 as part of Scottish devolution.

• Carrying out repairs as a landlord

  Information on dealing with tenant requests for repairs, as well as the Repairing Standard and Tolerable Standard.

• Changes to unmeasured water and sewerage charges for businesses

  Find out about the changes to water and sewerage charges for businesses.

• Child Disability Payment

  Information about Child Disability Payment including payment rates, who should apply, how to apply, what happens after you apply and what to do if you disagree with a decision.

• Child maintenance if one parent lives outside Scotland

  What to do if you need to get child maintenance and one of you lives outside Scotland.

• Choosing a self-build home type

  A guide to the different types of home you may wish to consider when building your own property.

• Communication agreements

  Information on agreeing a method for a landlord and tenant to contact each other during a private residential tenancy.

• Complain about Social Security Scotland

  You can complain about Social Security Scotland in person, by phone, in writing, online or on social media.

• Connecting water, electricity and gas services to a self-build

  How to arrange to have water, electricity and gas supplied to your new home.

• Controlling your dog in public

  Find out about the law around controlling your dog in public and how to report a dangerous dog.

• Designing your home

  How to design your own home with the help of an architect.

• Disability Living Allowance to Adult Disability Payment review form

  Use this form to help Social Security Scotland make sure you’re on the right level of payment.

• Dog microchipping: information for businesses

  Information about dog microchipping for businesses, such as dog breeders, dog dealers, dog importers, microchip implanters, vets and database operators.

• Drink-drive limit in Scotland

  Scotland's drink-drive limit, the law, getting home safely, and alternative alcohol-free nights out.

• Driving licences, tests, car tax and registration

  Applying for a driving licence, driving lessons, contacting DVLA, vehicle tax, MOT, insurance, number plates and log books.

• Ending a tenancy as a landlord

  Information on legally ending a tenancy on a property you're renting out.

• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

  Find out about Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) in your area.

• Extra support if you get a disability payment

  How to apply for extra benefits and services if you get Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment.

• Find business events

  Find and register for business events, workshops, seminars and conferences in Scotland.

• Find the air quality in your area

  Check to see how clean the air is in your area.

• Finding and buying a plot of land

  How to find and buy a plot of land you can build a property on.

• Furnished, part furnished and unfurnished homes

  Find out about the differences in furnished, unfurnished and part-furnished homes.

• Get a self-build loan in Scotland

  Find out how to get a loan to help build your own home.

• Get a wheelchair from the ShopMobility scheme

  Find out how to borrow a manual or powered wheelchair or a powered scooter through the ShopMobility scheme.

• Getting a building warrant

  Find out how to apply for a building warrant.

• Getting a self-build mortgage

  How to get a special mortgage for building your own home.

• Getting help to buy your home

  Information on Scottish Government schemes to help you buy a new home.

• Getting planning permission

  If you want to carry out building work you may need planning permission.

• Guarantors

  Help if you're asked to be a guarantor, or want to know more about what guarantors need to do.

• Healthcare for UK nationals living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

  Information on healthcare for UK nationals living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein.

• Help after the death of a partner

  What you need to do and what help you can get after the death of your husband, wife or partner.

• Help getting your child back from abroad or arranging contact

  Getting help if your child is taken abroad without your consent.

• Help to Buy (Scotland) Affordable New Build scheme

  Information on how to get financial help from the Scottish Government when buying a new build home.

• Help with a legal problem

  Who can help you if you need advice about a legal problem, such as debt, housing, benefits, employment, divorce or claims for money.

• Help with energy bills

  Check what grants, payments and benefits you could get to help with energy bills.

• Help with passports

  Apply for, renew or update a UK passport, use the Check and Send service, find a passport interview office.

• Hiring a builder

  How to hire a contractor for a self-build, or how to build it yourself.

• Hiring a letting agent

  Information on employing a letting agent to help you rent out your home.

• Home Owners' Support Fund

  If you're at risk of having your home repossessed, the Home Owners' Support Fund may be able to help you.

• How to report a possible abuse of your human rights

  If you feel your human rights have been abused, there are many ways you can report it.

• If you cannot afford to pay your mortgage

  Get advice and take steps to help you stay in your home.

• If your landlord increases the rent

  Information about how and when rent can be increased, and what you can do if you disagree with it.

• Illegal drugs and driving in Scotland

  It's a crime to drive if you've taken illegal drugs or if you're unfit through any drug. Find out the law around illegal drugs and driving.

• Lay a hard surface outside your house

  Find out if you need planning permission to lay a hard surface like paving around your home.

• Letting Agents who have been removed from the Register

  A list of Letting Agents who have been removed from the Register because their registration has expired or they are no longer carrying out letting agency work.

• Letting agent registration

  Find out how to register as a letting agent, including information on the Code of Practice.

• Letting agent registration updates

  Keep up to date with letting agent registration requirements.

• Letting agent regulation (information for landlords)

  Information on the Letting Agent Code of Practice and how to complain about your letting agent.

• Letting agent regulation (information for tenants)

  Information on the Letting Agent Code of Practice and how to complain about your letting agent.

• Microchip your dog

  Information about microchipping your dog in Scotland, including how much it costs and where to get it done.

• Miscarriage of justice: apply for compensation

  You can apply for compensation if you’ve been wrongfully convicted of or charged with a crime.

• Miscarriage of justice: claim compensation

  How to apply for compensation for a miscarriage of justice. Includes the Statutory Scheme and the Ex Gratia Scheme.

• Mother and Baby Unit Family Fund

  The Mother and Baby Unit Family Fund helps with the cost of travel and food if you're visiting someone in a Mother and Baby Unit.

• Moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Adult Disability Payment

  Find out which adults in Scotland will have their benefit moved to Adult Disability Payment.

• Moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

  From March 2025, adults still in receipt of DLA will move to a new benefit called Scottish Adult DLA. Find out what the move means for you.

• New Supply Shared Equity scheme

  How to get help to buy a newly built home by sharing the cost with the Scottish Government

• Non-domestic rates relief

  Find out about the non-domestic rates reliefs (discounts) available in Scotland, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme, and how to apply.

• Open Market Shared Equity scheme

  How to get help to buy a home on the open market by sharing the cost with the Scottish Government

• Pardons and disregards for convictions for sexual activity between men

  Find out how you can have a historical conviction for same-sex sexual activity removed from your records.

• Planning your own funeral

  How to plan your own funeral, including your funeral wishes, funeral payment plans and where to keep the information.

• Prescription drugs and driving in Scotland

  It's a crime to drive if you're over the limits for certain prescription or illegal drugs or you're unfit because you've taken any drug. Find out the law around prescription drugs and driving.

• Reclaiming VAT on a self-build project

  How to claim back VAT on building materials used to build your own home.

• Register agricultural land

  You must register your agricultural land if you want to claim rural funding from the Scottish Government.

• Rent Pressure Zone: Improvements Guidance

  Improvements that can be made by a landlord to a let property in a rent pressure zone.

• Renting property from a private landlord

  Information on how to move in and move out of a home if you're renting privately.

• Renting your property out

  A guide to renting out a property if you're a landlord.

• Roof additions and alterations to your house

  Find out whether you need planning permission to add a dormer to your roof and gain extra space.

• Rural Housing Fund and Islands Housing Fund

  Information about the Rural and Islands Housing Funds including who can apply and how to apply.

• Scaffolding rules

  The rules for putting up scaffolding on your property - licence, checks, safety, builder, scaffold companies

• ScotAccount

  Information about ScotAccount, including how to set up and use your ScotAccount and how to verify your identity.

• Search for business funding or advice

  Search for business funding, including grant and loan options available in Scotland.

• Self-build planning permission and building warrants

  How to get planning permission and a building warrant for a self-build project.

• Self-build site insurance

  How to get site insurance and a structural warranty while building a home.

• Set up and run a limited liability partnership (LLP)

  Setting up an LLP so you can run a business with 2 or more members - registration, LLP agreement, members and their responsibilities.

• Set up and run a limited partnership

  Explains your responsibilities, including choosing a name, having a registered address, appointing partners and registering with Companies House.

• Set up as a sole trader

  Register as a sole trader and find out your legal responsibilities if you run a business as a self-employed sole trader.

• Shared Ownership

  How to share the cost of a new home with a housing association if you can't afford to buy it outright.

• Shared equity for older people

  Information on getting help to buy your home if you're aged 60 or over.

• Short-term Assistance

  Find out how you can apply for Short-term Assistance from Social Security Scotland.

• Sign up to the Scottish Business Pledge

  Find more information on the Scottish Business Pledge - a voluntary commitment Scottish businesses can make.

• Smacking and children

  From 7 November 2020 all forms of physical punishment or physical discipline of children is against the law in Scotland.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Adult Disability Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Best Start Foods, Best Start Grant and Scottish Child Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Carer Support Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Carer's Allowance Supplement

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Case Transfer to Adult Disability Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Case Transfer to Carer Support Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Case Transfer to Child Disability Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Child Disability Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Funeral Support Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Job Start Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Scottish Child Payment

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey for Young Carer Grant

  Find out about the Social Security Scotland Satisfaction Survey and how to complete it.

• Starting a business from your home

  Information on starting a business from your home including setting up a home office, planning permission, title deeds, health and safety, trading standards and waste management.

• Storms and strong winds

  Help and support during storms and strong winds. Includes information on flooding, lightning, loss of utilities and insurance.

• Tenancy deposits (landlords)

  Information on registering a tenant's deposit with a scheme and resolving disputes.

• Third party authorisation form

  Use this form to authorise someone to speak to Social Security Scotland on your behalf.

• Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

  Includes passports, travel insurance, travelling with pets and haulier information.

• Types of tenancy

  Information on assured tenancies, short assured tenancies and private residential tenancies.

• When you need a licence to copy a creative work

  Find out if you need a licence to copy a creative work, find out if a work is covered by copyright or an exception.

• Works that can be carried out through permitted development

  Find out whether the building work you want to carry out needs planning permission.

• myaccount

  myaccount lets you use some online public services using one account. Find out how to register, sign in or get help with myaccount.