Households in Scotland can now apply for a free cash payment of nearly £332, designed to help families with a child starting primary school. Applications for the Best Start Grant school age payment opened on Monday, June 1, 2026.
The one-off payment of £331.95 per child is issued by Social Security Scotland and is available only to those living in Scotland, not England, Wales or Northern Ireland. The grant is not repayable and can be spent on anything families need, from clothes and stationery to school trips.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Best Start Grant school age payment, applicants usually need to be receiving one of seven key DWP benefits: Universal Credit, housing benefit, income support, Pension Credit, income-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA), or income-related employment and support allowance (ESA).
Applications are open to families with children born between March 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022, from June 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Government Support
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Starting school is a landmark moment in a child's life, but sadly it can also put real financial pressure on families. That's why we introduced the Best Start Grant school age payment – to help ensure that every child in Scotland can begin their school journey with what they need, regardless of their family's circumstances."
She added: "This support is a vital part of our wider commitment to eradicating child poverty, making sure help reaches families at key moments in a child's life."
Important Details
Whether a family can receive the payment depends on the child's age and when they are first old enough to start primary school. Social Security Scotland said families did not need to wait until their child started school to apply. Those who are deferring their child's start date, or whose child will not be attending school, are still eligible and must apply before the closing date of February 28, 2027.
Families receiving Scottish child payments who are eligible should get an automated payment and do not need to apply.
Sara Spencer, Cost Of The School Day project manager, said: "We know from our work with children and families that starting school adds real pressure to already stretched family finances. That's why it's really important that families apply for the financial support, like the school age payment, that they are entitled to."
