02-06-2025
Parents urged to apply for £319 one-off payment to help cover school costs after the summer
Applications for the School Age Payment are now open until February 28, 2026.
How to apply for Tax-Free Childcare and 30 hours childcare
Social Security Scotland is urging parents, carers and guardians on certain benefits with a child born between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2021, to check whether they are eligible for a one-off payment worth £319.80.
The Best Start Grant School Age Payment is made per eligible child in Scotland-only and aims to help with the costs of preparing them for school. Application for School Age Payment opened on June 1 and will be open until February 28, 2026.
School Age Payment is issued automatically to people who get Scottish Child Payment. People who do not receive the devolved benefit, or who have opted out of automatic payments, should apply - full details on here.
The money aims to help parents or carers with the costs of their child starting school and is available for all eligible children from the same household.
The School Age Payment has not replaced the School Clothing Grant and does not affect payments of the School Clothing Grant in any way. If you want to apply for both, you can - full details here.
A person may be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods if they or their partner meet these conditions:
live in Scotland
are pregnant or have a child who's the right age for a payment
are the main person looking after the child
get certain benefits
Benefits or payments you need to get
To get Best Start Grant and Foods, normally you or your partner need to get one of these:
Universal Credit
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Pension Credit
income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
If you're under 20-years-old and do not get one of the payments listed above, you may still be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
If you're not getting any of these benefits or payments, but have applied for one, you can still apply for Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
Guidance on also explains that 'Child Benefit on its own is not an accepted benefit for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods. You must get one of the benefits from this list.'
People can apply online, by phone or by post. More information can be found on the dedicated Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods pages on here or by calling Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222.
Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Child Payment is unique to Scotland and provides financial support for families, helping with the costs of caring for a child. It is a weekly payment, currently worth £27.15 (£108.60 every four-week pay period), for every eligible child that a parent or carer looks after who's under 16 years of age.
Social Security Scotland recently revealed that there are around one in 10 families who might be eligible for the payment but not claiming it.
Combined with Child Benefit payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), parents could be due up to £212.80 every month in additional support.
Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child. The payment is also issued every four weeks which amounts to £104.20 every payment period.
Parents with additional children receive £17.25 each week, some £69.00 every four week pay period.
Scottish Child Payment is also one of the five family payments parents and carers may be eligible for along with Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
To qualify for Scottish Child Payment, all of the following need to apply:
the person lives in Scotland
the person or their partner are getting certain benefits or payments
the person or their partner are the main person looking after a child who's under 16 years old
A full list of qualifying benefits can be found online here.
Parents, carers and guardians can get more information about financial help on the dedicated Children and Family section on here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
