Best Start Grant: The Three Payments Every Parent Should Know About

The Best Start Grant is three separate lump-sum payments that Scottish families can claim at different points in their child’s early life. It’s run by Social Security Scotland and — like Scottish Child Payment — has no equivalent in England. Here’s the complete picture.

The three payments

1. 1

   Pregnancy & Baby Payment

   Up to £796.65 for your first child, £398.35 for subsequent children. Claim from 24 weeks pregnant up to the baby's first birthday.
2. 2

   Early Learning Payment

   £331.95 per child, claimed between age 2 and 3.5. To help with the cost of clothes, toys and learning resources as toddlers grow.
3. 3

   School Age Payment

   £331.95 per child, claimed the year they start P1. To help with uniform, schoolbag, stationery and settling-in costs.

Each payment is a one-off lump sum. Each is claimed separately, at the right age — though you can apply for all three at once in some circumstances.

How much could you get for one child?

For a first child, across the three stages, you can claim up to:

• £796.65 (pregnancy and baby)
• £331.95 (early learning)
• £331.95 (school age)
• = £1,460.55 total

For a second or subsequent child, the pregnancy and baby element drops but the other two stay the same:

• £398.35 (pregnancy and baby)
• £331.95 (early learning)
• £331.95 (school age)
• = £1,062.25 total

Who can claim?

You need to be getting one of these benefits:

• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit

Or — and this matters — if you’re under 18, you can get the Pregnancy & Baby payment without needing a qualifying benefit. Same if you’re 18 or 19 and still in full-time school or in a parent’s benefits claim.

When to apply for each payment

The School Age Payment has an application window that opens the year your child starts P1. If you miss the window, you miss the payment — so it’s worth setting a reminder.

How to apply

Applications are made to Social Security Scotland via mygov.scot — a single form covers Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods. You can apply online, by post, or by phone.

You’ll need:

• Your details and NI number
• Details of the qualifying benefit you’re on
• Details of the child or expected due date
• Bank details for the payment

Decisions are usually made within a few weeks. Approved claims are paid as a lump sum directly into your bank account.

Best Start Grant vs Sure Start Maternity Grant (England)

England has a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 — but only for the first child and only at pregnancy/birth. There’s nothing equivalent to the Early Learning Payment or School Age Payment.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

• Not applying for the pregnancy payment early enough. You can claim from 24 weeks — don’t wait.
• Missing the school age window. Put the application date in your calendar now.
• Assuming you have to apply three times from scratch. The Social Security Scotland system remembers you; subsequent applications are faster.
• Forgetting about younger children who qualify retroactively. If your child is already at school but you weren’t on a qualifying benefit when you could have applied, you’ve missed that particular payment — but you can still claim anything in your child’s current age bracket.