Scots have been urged to stop paying private advice websites for help with benefits applications after concerns were raised about the practice. The warning follows reports of companies using "aggressive" social media adverts targeting older or vulnerable people, claiming they can guarantee pay-outs from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland.
These firms charge inflated fees or demand a percentage of any pay-outs. One website allegedly claims it can secure applicants a lifetime of disability payments for a fee of £49.99, despite there being no guarantee of success.
Free help available
Social Security Scotland said it was "concerned" by the practice and urged the public to seek help from reputable charities like Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS). The agency stressed that free assistance is available to help people access vital payments.
Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Social Justice Secretary, is aware of the issue and has met with the charity to discuss how the Government can help. Promotional campaigns are being considered to ensure all Scots realise they can access welfare advice at "no cost".
Unregulated sector
Benefits advice is not regulated in the UK, meaning anyone can offer their services and ask for payment. The firms claim they can help applicants navigate online forms for payments such as the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP).
In one example, the family of an elderly Scottish man was chased by a private advice firm after he died before his first benefit payment was awarded.
Official response
"Everyone eligible for support should get every penny of the money they are entitled to," a Social Security Scotland spokesman said. "We provide free assistance to people so they can access vital payments. Independent advisors such as Citizens Advice Bureaus are also available.
"We are concerned about people being charged for assistance to access benefits and have been raising awareness of the free support available to people.
"The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice also met with CAS and discussed this issue recently. We welcome the chance to work with them on this to ensure people get all of their benefit entitlement. We will continue to promote these services to ensure people know where they can access trusted support at no cost."
Emma Jackson, CAS assistant director, said: "Our advisers provide free and confidential expert advice that gets money back in people's pockets. Whether you need that face to face, over the phone or online, advisers based in local communities will work with you and make sure you get all the support you need.
"No one should have to pay for advice to get the social security payments they're entitled to. Every penny of the nearly £170 million we secured for people last year, stayed with them."
Background
Social Security Scotland was established in 2018 to administer several benefits previously managed by the DWP. In 2025/26, the agency spent £5.875 billion on payouts to 1.9 million recipients, up from £3.58 billion to 976,320 recipients the previous year.
