Parents urged to apply for £314 one-off payment before end of this month to help cover school costs
Social Security Scotland is urging parents, carers and guardians with a child born between March 1, 2019, and February 29, 2020, who get Universal Credit, Tax Credits, or other qualifying benefits to check whether they are eligible for a one-off payment worth £314.45. The Best Start Grant School Age Payment is made per eligible child and aims to help with the costs of preparing them for school.
Anyone who has opted out of receiving automatic awards, or who has chosen not to apply for Scottish Child Payment, will need to make an application for the School Age Payment before the deadline on February 28, 2025. Social Security Scotland said the payment, which is only available north of the border, is designed for children starting school but those who are not yet in P1 could still receive the cash.
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The payment is available for multiple children from the same household, as long as each child is the right age. Those receiving the Scottish Child Payment should automatically receive the payment.
Some families who are not eligible for the Scottish Child Payment might still be eligible for the School Age Payment.
This includes parents and carers who receive Housing Benefit, are under 18 and do not receive any other benefits, or are 18 or 19 and dependent on someone else who receives benefits for them.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “If you have a child in the family aged five, or who turns five this month, then you could be eligible for the school age payment. We are urging everyone who is eligible to make sure that they don’t miss the deadline for applications, especially as all the children in the household who are the right age can get the payment.
“Best Start Grant is made up of a series of payments designed to ensure that children in Scotland get exactly that - the best start possible in life.
“This money is an important contribution to families at a key stage in their child’s development when they may be facing additional costs.”
The School Age Payment is part of the five family payments people may be able to get, along with Scottish Child Payment, which is now available for children up to the age of 16. This is a £26.70 weekly payment paid monthly to parents or guardians in receipt of qualifying benefits.
What affects whether you can apply
If you are under 18, you do not need to be on any payments or benefits to apply for Best Start Grant.
If you are a parent over 18, you can apply whether you're in work or not, as long as you are getting one of these:
Universal Credit
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit - this is Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit for Best Start Foods
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Pension Credit
income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You cannot get Best Start Grant if you only get Child Benefit. You must still be getting one of the benefits or payments from this list to be able to get the Best Start Grant.
If you're not getting any of these benefits or payments, but have applied for one, you can still apply for Best Start Grant.
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 mygov.scot here or by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
