Other benefits you might be able to get

As well as Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, you may be able to get other benefits to help towards the costs of supporting your family. This includes Scottish Child Payment. You can find out more about Scottish Child Payment.

How it works

Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £25 which you can get for every child you look after who's under 16 years old. You'll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.

Who should apply

You may be able to get Scottish Child Payment if all of the following apply:

• you and the child you're looking after live in Scotland
• you or your partner are getting certain benefits or tax credits
• you or your partner are the main person looking after a child who is under 16 years old

If you want to apply for Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods as well as Scottish Child Payment, you can apply for all of them in the same form to save yourself some time.

If you'd prefer, you can apply for Scottish Child Payment separately.

Automatic payments of Best Start Grant’s Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment

Social Security Scotland recognises that applying for benefits can be difficult. To make things easier, we can now make automatic payments for certain benefits without the need to apply.   

  If you get Scottish Child Payment and your child meets the age conditions, Social Security Scotland also automatically check if you can get these payments:  

• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment   
• Best Start Grant School Age Payment   

If you do not get Scottish Child Payment, you need to apply for these payments separately.   

Social Security Scotland will send you a text message or email to let you know they’re checking if your child can get these payments.   

If you get the payment, you’ll get a letter telling you how much you’ll be paid. The payment reference will appear in your bank account as your National Insurance Number followed by 'SSS BSG'. You might get the payment before you get your letter due to delays with the post.    

Social Security Scotland cannot automatically pay Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment or Best Start Foods. You still need to apply for these payments.   

You can opt out of these payments by:  

• calling us free on 0800 182 2222   
• webchat at mygov.scot/contact-social-security-scotland 

You must tell us if your circumstances change as it may affect your payments. Read more about reporting a change of circumstances. 

Read more about applying for Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods.