Scottish Government

Acting on behalf of someone applying for benefits

Appointees, representatives

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.

Adult Disability Payment

Apply, payments, decisions, extra support

Adult Disability Payment consultations

Practitioners, support, accessibility, after your consultation

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 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 for Scotland's Redress Scheme

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

Apply to lease an accessible vehicle

How it works, how to apply

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

Result, benefits

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 or greenhouse at your house

Information on the permitted development rules for an ancillary building.

Building regulations

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

Building standards for homeowners

Find out what you need to do to meet building standards in Scotland.

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

Payments, other benefits, support

Carer’s Allowance changes in Scotland

Payments, reviews, other benefits

Child Disability Payment

Payments, apply, support

Child maintenance if one parent lives abroad

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

Complain about Social Security Scotland

Process, who can complain, examples

Controlling your dog in public

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

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.

Drink-drive limit in Scotland

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

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

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

Extra support if you get a disability payment

Carers, housing, transport, travel

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.

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 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.

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 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 to return or contact a child taken abroad

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

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.

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 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) has started moving to Adult Disability Payment

Before 21 March 2025, your DLA may have started moving to Adult Disability Payment. Find out more if this applies to you and what it means.

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.

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.

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.

Offer a home to someone from Ukraine

Apply to the Homes for Ukraine Super Sponsor Scheme

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.

Payments, grants and discounts to help with energy bills

Grants, payments, benefits, discounts

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.

Register agricultural land

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

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 and Islands Housing Fund

Information about the Rural and Islands Housing Fund, 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 Loan Fund in Scotland

About the Self-Build Loan Fund in Scotland.

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

Payments, re-determination, apply

Smacking and children

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