Scotland’s best start grant

The best start grant is made up of three one-off payments to help you with the cost of raising your children:

• the pregnancy and baby payment – £754.66 for your first child and £377.35 for any others. It can be paid during pregnancy up until your baby is six months old.
• the early learning payment – £314.45 if your child is between two and three-and-a-half-years old.
• the school-age payment – £314.45 if your child is ready to start school

You can get the best start grant if you’re the biological parent or you’ve taken responsibility for a child e.g. an adopted child, a stepchild or a child moved into your custody.

If your child is under three, or you’re pregnant, you can also apply for the best start foods payment to help you buy healthy foods.

Your or your partner are eligible for the best start grant if you’re claiming any of these benefits:

• child tax credit
• housing benefit
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• income support
• pension credit
• universal credit
• working tax credit

You’re automatically eligible to apply for the best start grant if:

• you’re under 18
• you’re 18 or 19 and someone claims child benefit, child tax credit, or the child element of pension credit or universal credit for you

Your or your partner are eligible for the best start grant if you’re claiming any of these benefits:

• child tax credit
• housing benefit
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• income support
• pension credit
• universal credit
• working tax credit

You’re automatically eligible to apply for the best start grant if:

• you’re under 18
• you’re 18 or 19 and someone claims child benefit, child tax credit, or the child element of pension credit or universal credit for you

Will getting the best start grant affect my other benefits?

No, your other benefits and tax credits won’t be affected. 

But you can’t get the pregnancy and baby payment if you’ve already been paid the sure start maternity grant for the same baby.

However, if you get the school-age payment, you can still apply for Scotland’s school clothing grant. 

Who pays the best start grant?

Social Security Scotland pays the best start grant.

Do I need to pay the best start grant back?

No. The money is not a loan.

You can apply for the first payment of the best start grant from the 24th week of pregnancy until the day before your baby is six months old.

If your baby is born before 24 weeks, you can apply from their date of birth until the day they turn six months old. 

And you can apply until the day before their first birthday if you’ve taken over responsibility for looking after a child under the age of one e.g. adoption.

You can spend it on things like maternity and baby clothes, cots and prams, books and toys, or any school-related costs. 

Yes, but you need to apply when the children are the right ages. 

The pregnancy and baby payment usually vary for each child. You’ll get £754.66 for your first child and £377.35 for any others.

The early learning and school-age payments are £314.45 for every child. 

Can I get the best start grant if my child lived with someone else who’s been paid the grant?

Payments are usually only made once for each child. Extra payments can be made if the person responsible for the child changes during an application window e.g. if the child starts living with the other parent.

How much will I be paid if I’m having more than one baby?

You’ll get an extra £377.35 on top of the usual payment for each additional baby.

If you already have children under 16, you’ll get £377.35 per twin or triplet, plus an extra £377.35.

If you don’t have children already and you’re having twins or triplets, you’ll get £754.70 for the first, then £377.35 for the others and an extra £377.35.

Can I get the pregnancy and baby payment if I had a stillbirth?

Yes, you can still get this payment for a stillborn baby or a baby who died after being born. 

You can apply for up to six months after their birth date if you weren’t paid when you were pregnant.

Best start foods is a regular payment that can help you buy specific healthy foods until your child is three, including:

• plain cow’s milk
• first infant formula
• fresh, frozen or tinned fruits or vegetables
• fresh or dried pulses e.g. lentils, beans, peas, barley etc.
• fresh eggs

You’ll get a prepaid card to use online or in shops that sell these items and take Mastercard.

Your best start foods card is topped up every four weeks by:

• £21.20 during pregnancy – this is the same even if you’re having more than one baby
• £42.40 for each child from birth until one year old
• £21.20 for each child between one and three years old 

If your baby is born early, you’ll get the higher amount until one year after their due date.