An extra £20 million will be included in next year’s budget to help those hit by the so-called “bedroom tax”, Nicola Sturgeon will announce.
The Deputy First Minister will pledge the extra investment made by Finance Secretary John Swinney in this session will be repeated in 2014/15.
The Courier can also reveal Mr Swinney will use his conference speech in his home patch of Perth to promise the Queensferry Crossing will be free of tolls when it is officially opened.
Perth and North Perthshire MSP Mr Swinney is set to outline the successes of the £1.4 billion on-time and on-budget project, expected to open in 2016, which will replace the Forth Road Bridge.
Charges to cross the Forth and Tay road bridges were eventually scrapped by the SNP in 2008, following a Courier campaign.
Ms Sturgeon’s announcement of extra funding will help local authorities to increase discretionary housing payments for a second consecutive year and help those who have felt the impact of UK Government welfare reforms.
It means the Scottish Government money can be used to top up the payments in each local authority to the maximum permitted under UK legislation.
She will tell delegates: “Last month, we announced an extra £20 million in this financial year to help those affected by the ‘bedroom tax’.
“That money is enabling councils to top up their discretionary housing payments to the maximum amount Westminster legislation allows.
“I can announce today we will allocate up to £20 million again next year so we can continue this vital help for those hit by the ‘bedroom tax’.
“I promise we will continue to do all we can to help but only an independent Scottish Parliament will give us the powers we need to scrap the ‘bedroom tax’.
“There is no doubt people in Scotland are paying a heavy price for Westminster decisions. We are doing the most we can with the powers we currently have to mitigate the worst impact of those decisions.”
The DHP allocations for local authorities for 2014/15 have not yet been announced. The breakdown of the Scottish Government funding will be available once these allocations are known, expected to be early next year.
Meanwhile, Ms Sturgeon will also warn Scotland’s budget would be slashed by the UK Government in the event of a No vote in next year’s independence referendum.
She will say: “Consider carefully the arguments for a Yes vote. But do not ever let anyone pull the wool over your eyes about the consequence of a No vote. They are clear and they are real.
“Scotland’s social security system will be dismantled. Scotland’s public services and universal benefits will be under threat. Scotland’s budget will be cut.”
A Better Together spokesperson said: “Every time a nationalist mentions their positive campaign over the next year, they should be handed these ridiculous words from Nicola Sturgeon.
“This takes scaremongering to a new level. It is embarrassing.”