Social Security Scotland – The NEN

Giving children the best start in life

Support of over £2,600 available through pregnancy and early parenthood

The birth of a new baby can put financial pressure on household budgets, but there’s a wide range of financial support available from the Scottish Government to ensure children have the best start in life.

Families receiving Universal Credit or certain benefits could be eligible to more than £2,600 in financial support during pregnancy and their child’s first year of life, helping with the costs of welcoming a new baby.

Expectant families can apply for the Best Start Foods pre-paid card as soon as they find out they are pregnant, helping ease the costs of buying healthy food.

Families can also apply for Pregnancy and Baby Payment from the 24th week of pregnancy. The one-off payment can be used to purchase anything families might need for having a baby, such as a pram, toys or baby clothes.

Scottish Child Payment is also available once the child is born to help with anything needed to help raise their new baby.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Welcoming a new baby is a special and exciting time, and families should have the support they need as they prepare for the arrival of their child.

“This package of support, worth thousands of pounds for eligible households, provides extra help from pregnancy through to a baby’s first birthday and beyond. Backing families in those vital early months is central to our mission to eradicate child poverty, helping parents provide the opportunities every child deserves and giving them the best possible start in life.”

Danielle turned to her local Citizens Advice Bureau after struggling to meet essential costs while caring for her 7 month old baby alone. Financial pressures had become so severe that she was considering selling her home.

But with support from Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Foods helping to ease food shopping bills, Danielle said she and her baby had enough to eat and did not need to use a food bank.

Assistant Director for Policy and Research at Citizens Advice Scotland, Emma Jackson, commented: “Evidence from across the Citizens Advice network shows the important role that pregnancy and early years payments can play in helping families through periods of financial insecurity and change.

“Support such as Best Start Grant, Best Start Foods and Scottish Child Payment can help ease financial pressures, enabling families to afford the essentials and support children to get the best possible start in life.

“Local Citizens Advice Bureaux are there to provide free, confidential and expert advice that’s available online, over the phone or in-person to help people apply for the support they’re entitled to and make sure they don’t miss out on payments that can make a real difference to their family.”

Support for bereaved families

Raising awareness of help available this Baby Loss Awareness Week

Social Security Scotland is highlighting the financial support available to families that have lost a baby this Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 – 15 October 2026).

Families that already receive qualifying benefits can apply for additional support if they have experienced a stillbirth or have lost their baby after being born.

Bereaved families may be able to access Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment to help relieve financial pressures if their baby has died. In addition, Funeral Support Payment is available to help cover the costs of a baby’s funeral.

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville, said: “Losing a baby can have a devastating impact on families. During a time where parents should be able to grieve the loss of their infant, many are faced with added financial pressures that can make their loss even harder to process.

“This Baby Loss Awareness Week, I am letting families know about the package of financial help the Scottish Government offers to help ease some of those strains, giving parents the chance to mourn without added financial worries.”

An estimated 1 in 4 people in the UK experience pregnancy or baby loss. Social Security Scotland recognises the profound impact loss can have on families and is committed to providing support to clients and colleagues.

Social Security Scotland’s Deputy Director of People and Place, Nicola Rudnicki, added: “We understand that losing a baby is one of the hardest experiences a family can face.

“For families looking to apply for support, our teams are specially trained to manage bereavement cases with compassion and respect, meaning our clients can speak to our colleagues knowing they will be treated with dignity.

“We are also proud to have signed Miscarriage UK’s Pregnancy Loss Pledge, recognising that every loss matters and reaffirming our commitment to creating a supportive and understanding environment for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss.”

Rowena Pailing, Director of Bereavement Support Services, Community and Volunteering, Sands commented: “Baby loss has a huge emotional impact. It can also have a financial impact.

“At Sands, we hear from families who may be struggling because of their employment situations, or who are concerned about funeral costs. We would encourage anyone who loses a baby to check whether they are eligible for financial help from Social Security Scotland.”

Baby Loss Awareness Week (9 – 15 October 2026) brings people together to create a supportive space to share their experiences about pregnancy and baby loss. The awareness week also marks the annual Wave of Light memorial on 15 October where families around the work are invited to light a candle at 7pm in remembrance of all babies that have died too soon.

Sands is the charity speaking up about pregnancy and baby loss, saving babies’ lives and supporting bereaved families.

Miscarriage UK’s latest figures from March 2026 estimate that 1 in 4 pregnancies in the UK end in loss. To find out more about the research, visit: Miscarriage UK research report – March 2026 | Miscarriage UK

Challenge Poverty Week: Monday

SOCIAL SECURITY

Winter heating help for over 1 million people in Scotland

Scotland’s unique package of winter heating support will begin this month

An estimated 1.4 million payments will be made to people across Scotland to help with heating their homes this winter, with payments set to begin from October.

The Scottish Government’s unique package of winter heating benefits provides guaranteed support to pensioners, low-income households and families with disabled children and young people.

Pension Age Winter Heating Payment has replaced Winter Fuel Payment in Scotland, providing people of State Pension age with a payment between £105.55 and £316.70 depending on their age and household circumstances. Payments are issued to all eligible pensioners but are recovered from those with an individual income of over £35,000 by HMRC. Payments will begin from November and continue throughout the winter.

Child Winter Heating Payment supports households with disabled children and young people who have the highest care needs in the winter months. This type of assistance is not available anywhere else in the UK. This year payments will start from week commencing 5 October.

Winter Heating Payment is a guaranteed, annual payment for low-income households in receipt of certain benefits. This is paid irrespective of how cold the temperature gets outside, unlike the UK Government’s Cold Weather Payment which is only paid if the average temperature reaches, or is forecast to reach, freezing or below for a full week. Payments will begin from December.

For the majority of eligible people, the winter heating benefits delivered by Social Security Scotland are paid automatically with no need to apply.

Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Over a million people are set to benefit from the Scottish Government’s package of winter heating support – which is stronger than anywhere else in the UK.

“With energy costs predicted to rise again, this could be a valuable lifeline for older people, families on low incomes, disabled children and young people.

“We are committed to treating people with the dignity, fairness and respect they deserve. Our approach supports those most in need. The Scottish Government will continue to ensure vulnerable people get the financial help they need this winter.”

In winter 2025/26, over 1.57 million payments were issued for Child Winter Heating Payment, Winter Heating Payment and Pension Age Winter Heating Payment.

More than 1.46 million clients received at least one of the three winter heating benefits.

Read last year’s winter heating benefit statistics: Winter Heating Benefits: Statistics for Winter 2025/2026 – Social Security Scotland