Starting in April, Scottish families will see an increase in the financial support they receive to help with the daily costs of raising children.
According to Daily Record, this will come from a combination of the Scottish Child Payment, Child Benefit, and Best Start Grants, which provide crucial financial assistance to Scottish families with children under the age of 16.
These changes aim to reduce financial pressures on Scottish families, offering them additional support for everyday needs such as food, clothing, and education, helping to ease the burden of rising living costs.
What Is the Scottish Child Payment?
The Scottish Child Payment, a unique initiative to Scotland, has been supporting Scottish families since February 2021. This weekly payment is currently set at £26.70 per eligible child under 16 years of age, which will rise to £27.15 per week from April 2025.
This means that parents and carers can receive £108.60 every four weeks per child.
As of late 2024, over £1 billion has been paid out to 326,080 families across Scotland, benefiting children aged 16 or under. Social Security Scotland revealed that one in 10 families who might be eligible for the payment are not claiming it, underscoring the importance of raising awareness about this benefit.
Child Benefit and How It Supports Families
In addition to the Scottish Child Payment, families across the UK, including those in Scotland, receive Child Benefit. This UK-wide benefit is paid to parents or guardians of children, with the amount varying based on the number of children in a family.
For the eldest child, the payment is currently £25.60 per week, and £17.25 for additional children. From April 7, 2025, the payment for the eldest child will increase to £26.05 per week, while payments for additional children will be £17.25 per week.
Combined with the Scottish Child Payment, parents can receive up to £212.20 per month in financial support.
Best Start Grants for Early Childhood
The Scottish Government also provides one-off payments to help with costs at key stages of a child’s early life. These include the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment, and School Age Payment.
These payments are designed to support Scottish families through pregnancy and early childhood, with amounts ranging from £314.45 to £754.65 depending on the stage.
- Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment: Up to £754.65, available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns six months (rising to £767.50 in April).
- Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment: £314.45 (rising to £319.80 in April) to help with early learning costs for children between two and three years and six months.
- Best Start Grant School Age Payment: £314.45 (rising to £319.80 in April) to help with the costs of starting school, available for children starting Primary One.
Additionally, Best Start Foods offers families £42.40 every four weeks (rising to £43.20 in April) from pregnancy until a child turns three, to help buy healthy food, milk, and infant formula.
Extending Access to Benefits
Recent policy changes have made it easier for Scottish families to access these vital benefits. Notably, the income limits for Best Start Foods have been removed, meaning any family receiving a qualifying benefit and with a child under three or who is pregnant is eligible for support.
In a statement, Social Security Scotland emphasised its commitment to ensuring that all eligible families receive the benefits they are entitled to :
At Social Security Scotland, we are committed to making sure that anyone eligible for any of the benefits we deliver is getting the money they are entitled to.
Social Security Scotland has also highlighted that one in 10 families who are eligible for the Scottish Child Payment are not claiming it, indicating the need for increased awareness and support for Scottish families to access these benefits.
Parents and carers can get more information by visiting the dedicated Children and Family section on mygov.scot or by calling Social Security Scotland at 0800 182 2222.
