Parents could be due over £209 in monthly payments to help with daily costs

New data from Social Security Scotland indicates that more than 325,000 children and young people aged 0-15 years are currently receiving Scottish Child Payments of £106.80 every month. Since launching in 2021, thousands of families across Scotland have received additional financial support through the devolved benefit to tackle the daily costs of raising a family.

However, Social Security Scotland has revealed that there are around one in 10 families who might be eligible for the payment but not claiming it. The Scottish Government’s welfare body added: “At Social Security Scotland we are committed to making sure that anyone eligible for any of the benefits we deliver is getting the money they are entitled to.”

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To try to encourage more parents and carers to claim Scottish Child Payment, a new awareness campaign launched this week to encourage more people to apply. Social Security Scotland aims to reach families with older children, those in rural areas and parents from ethnic minorities.

Social Security Scotland delivers five family payments which can help pay for extra school term expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out.

Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £26.70 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £106.80 every month and is only available north of the border.

Combined with Child Benefit payments from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), parents could be due up to £209 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £25.60 for the eldest or only child and is also paid every four weeks, amounting to £102.40.

The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children’s early years, including during pregnancy.

There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, recently said: “Even if you are working you could still get these payments and I want to encourage everyone to check if they are eligible and access the money they are entitled to.”

One-off payments for families

• Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - one-off payment of up to £754.65 available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns 6 months.

• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - one-off payment of £314.45 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two, and three years and six months.

• Best Start Grant School Age Payment - one-off payment of £314.45 to help with the costs of starting school available between June 1 and the last day in February in the year when a child is first old enough to start primary one.

• Best Start Foods - up to £42.40 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food, milk and first infant formula.

Last year, the Scottish Government extended eligibility by removing income limits for Best Start Foods. This means anyone who gets a qualifying benefit, and is pregnant or has a child under-3, is eligible, regardless of their other income.

Scottish Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family and is a weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for every child you look after who is under the age of 16. Payments are made every four weeks and worth £106.80 per child.

Parents, carers and guardians can get more information on the dedicated Children and Family section on mygov.scot here or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.