Do you have a child starting school?
You could be due £250.
The Scottish Government has increased the level of financial support available to low income families with children with the launch of its Best Start Grant School Age Payment.
The £250 School Age Payment is made around the time a child normally starts Primary 1 to help with the costs of a child starting school. You can use it for anything from school bags, shoes, a warm coat, after school clubs, books or days out. It is not a loan so does not have to be paid back.
Delivered by Social Security Scotland, the School Age Payment is part of the Best Start Grant, a package of three payments that gives extra money to parents and carers on certain benefits or tax credits during the early years of a child’s life.
The other payments include:
- Pregnancy and Baby Payment - £600 for your first child and £300 for all other children
- Early Learning Payment - £250 when a child would normally start nursery
When you need to apply
The dates when you must apply depend on when your child was born:
Application windows
| Your child's date of birth | When you need to apply |
|---|
| Between 1 March 2014 and 28 February 2015 |
Between 3 June 2019 and 29 February 2020 |
| Between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016 |
Between 1 June 2020 and 28 February 2021 |
Parents who have deferred school entry so their children will start school in August 2020 should still apply in the 3 June to 29 February window. If they wait until next year it will be too late and will miss out on the payment. You do not need to take up a school place to get this payment.
Eligibility
Check eligibility below:
- You have a child starting primary this August
- You can apply for the School Age Payment if you live in Scotland whether you are in work or not
- You get certain benefits. Qualifying benefits include:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- If you are under 18 you are automatically eligible and don’t have to be on a qualifying benefit
- If you are 18 or 19, in full time education or training and dependent on someone else like a parent or carer who is claiming child benefit, child tax credit, pension credit or universal credit for you
How to apply
Social Security Scotland are taking applications via:
More help and advice can be found on the mygov.scot website.
When you will receive payment
You should receive your money within 14-21 days. If more information or further evidence is required to check that you are eligible it could take longer.