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Scottish Child Payment

How to apply

Last updated
5 February 2021

Before applying, you'll need:

  • the dates of birth of any children you have
  • your partner's details, if you have a partner
  • your bank details, if you have an account

Apply online

Most people take around 10 to 20 minutes to complete the form, but it's okay if it takes you longer. You'll not be able to save the form and come back to it later, because it has to be completed all at once.

Send your application by post, or call Social Security Scotland if any of these apply:

  • you do not have a permanent address
  • you do not have a bank account and have agreed a way for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to pay you
  • you're applying for someone who cannot manage their own affairs

Start now

Apply by phone

Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to make your application over the phone. The opening times are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

If you're a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact Social Security Scotland by video relay.

Apply by post

You can apply by filling in a paper form.

If you'd like a pre-paid envelope to send documents to Social Security Scotland, call them free on 0800 182 2222 and they'll send you one.

If you need any help

If you're not able to fill in an online or paper form, you can get help to complete it by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. The opening times are Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

If you need a large print paper form

You can get a large print paper form by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.

If you do not want to apply in English

Call 0800 182 2222 free to:

  • apply over the phone in any of over 100 languages
  • ask for a paper form to be sent to you in any of over 100 languages
Languages you can request include Urdu, Polish, Scottish Gaelic and many of the other languages used in Scotland. You cannot apply online in any language other than English.

Further help and advice

You can get face-to-face advice about Scottish Child Payment from Citizens Advice Scotland.

You can also go to GOV.UK if you need help to apply for any other UK benefits or payments, such as:

  • Universal Credit
  • Child Benefit
  • any type of tax credits

You and your data

If you want to know more about how Social Security Scotland use your data, read the privacy notice.

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