More than £23.5 million in benefits has been paid out to East Renfrewshire residents.

This was part of the £1.9 billion in direct payments throughout Scotland between April 2023 to March 2024.

The amount is paid out in 14 different benefits, seven of which are not available anywhere else in the UK, provide essential support while people deal with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. 

These payments were part of an increase in the Scottish Government benefits spend of £16.2 million compared to the last financial year.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, cabinet secretary for social justice, said: "We are committed to tackling poverty and supporting people throughout Scotland.

"We continue to offer vital support to families through our five family payments, including the Scottish Child Payment, which was helping support more than 329,000 children and young people by the end of 2023-24."

Achievements highlighted in the report include the Winter Heating Payment, which was paid to 400,000 people by February this year, and the introduction of the Carer Support Payment, replacing Carer’s Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.

By March 2024, the Scottish Child Payment was supporting more than 329,000 children and young people.

The benefits were aimed at a wide range of people, including carers, disabled people, families, pensioners, young people starting jobs, and those needing help with funeral costs.

Social Security Scotland, which is responsible for delivering the payments, helped families on low incomes with their living costs by sending out £463 million through five family payments, including Best Start Foods, the three Best Start Grants, and the Scottish Child Payment.

The organisation’s annual Client Survey revealed that 90 per cent of respondents who received a benefit payment from Social Security Scotland rated their overall experience as 'very good' or 'good.'

In addition, 89 per cent said they were treated with kindness.

David Wallace, Social Security Scotland’s chief executive, said: “While our service has continued to expand significantly, our clients remain at the heart of everything we do.

“We have focused on delivering new payments to people across Scotland including Carer Support Payment, while ensuring we give our clients an improved experience. This year, we have reduced call waiting and processing times and made it easier for people to submit supporting information for disability benefit applications.