Social Security Scotland: Financial help for families 

During the school summer holidays families can face increased costs for everything from childcare and extra activities to food bills.

We are asking our partners and stakeholders to help spread the word about financial support available and ask people to check if they are eligible for any of our family payments.
 
 People can apply for payments for all of their children using a single form.

• Scottish Child Payment –£106.80 every four weeks to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16
• 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 1 June 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.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Government extended eligibility by removing income limits for Best Start Foods. Now, anyone who gets a qualifying benefit, and is pregnant or has a child under 3, is eligible, regardless of their other income.
 
Some people might not think they are eligible for payments because they are working. However, people in work, whether part-time or full-time, can also receive many of the payments delivered by us, including those designed to help families on low incomes.

In Scotland, around one in three people getting Universal Credit are in work, and Universal Credit is one of the qualifying benefits for getting Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and the three Best Start Grant payments.
 
Parents, carers and guardians can get more information at Children and family – mygov.scot or by calling us free on 0800 182 2222.