Health Visiting & School Nursing Service: Social Security Scotland – Family Payments

Did you know that Social Security Scotland offers five family payments which can be applied for if you live in Scotland.

You can check if you are entitled to any of these benefits by telephoning the Money Talk Team on 0800 085 7145. It is free to call and your call is also confidential.

For Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant payments, we do not need to know about your income. For Best Start Foods, some of the benefits have an income limit.

You can apply on our freephone helpline 0800 182 2222. You can also apply by post or online at mygov.scot/benefits

School Age Payment
From 1st June 2021, the School Age Payment is open for applications from parents of children moving into Primary one in August.

The full details of family payments are as follows (details were correct at 01/06/21):

Scottish Child Payment

A payment of £40 paid every four weeks. It is paid for each child under 6. It is for families on certain benefits or tax credits. It helps towards the costs of looking after a child.

Scottish Child Disability Payment

Child Disability Payment provides money to help with the extra care and mobility costs children and young people with a disability may have, up to the age of 18. You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a disabled child under 16. The disability can be mental or physical. Social Security Scotland will pay Child Disability Payment until the child is 18.

There are 3 different payment rates: lowest (£23.70 per week), middle (£60 per week) and highest (89.60 per week). In addition, those receiving the highest rate of the care component, will also get Child Winter Heating Assistance. For further information view the Applying for Child Disability Factsheet or visit: Child Disability Payment – mygov.scot

Best Start Grant

For parents and carers. It is made up of three payments to help when a child is young:

• Pregnancy and Baby Payment
• Early Learning Payment
• School Age Payment

Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment

A £606 payment for a first child. For any other children you have, you will get £303. If you have a multiple birth, you will get an extra £303. It is to help with costs in pregnancy or having a baby for things like maternity clothes, a pram or additional heating. You can apply for this from:

• 24 weeks pregnant
• up to the day your baby is 6 months old.

Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment

A £252.50 payment. It is for families on certain benefits or tax credits and who have a child between 2 and 3½ years old. It is to help with the costs of early learning around the time your child might start nursery.

Best Start Grant School Age Payment

A £252.50 when a child is starting in Primary 1. It is to help with the costs of starting school.

Best Start Foods is a prepaid card. You will get £17.00 every 4 weeks if:

• you are pregnant, or
• you have children between 1 and 3 years old.

Best Start Foods

Is a prepaid card. You will get £17.00 every 4 weeks if:

• you are pregnant, or
• you have children between 1 and 3 years old.

This payment increases to £34.00 for any child under 1 year old. You can use the card to buy healthy foods for children under 3 years old. You can use it in shops and online to buy any of the foods listed:

• Fresh eggs
• Milk – plain cow’s milk and first infant formula
• Fruit/vegetables – fresh, frozen or tinned You cannot buy tinned or frozen food with added salt or sugar.
• Pulses; for example, peas, lentils and beans. These can be dried, fresh, frozen or tinned.

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For further information or for details on how to apply, please click here.