Tools

Scottish Family Benefits Calculator

Enter your family details and we’ll total up the Scottish-specific family benefits you could claim — Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant, School Clothing Grant, Education Maintenance Allowance for S5/S6 teens and more. Based on 2026/27 Social Security Scotland rates.

Your Scottish Family Benefits Estimate

Generated on 18 April 2026 from eduscot.co.uk/tools/benefits-calculator

Your family

Child aged

Annual household income (before tax)

Only used for the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) cliff test. Thresholds: £24,500 (one child) or £27,000 (two or more dependent children).

I receive a qualifying benefit
Universal Credit, Tax Credits, Pension Credit, Income Support etc.

I’m a carer (35+ hours/week)
For Carer Support Payment

Young carer (16–19) in household
16+ hours/week caring

Council (for clothing grant)

Estimated family entitlement

£4,150/year

Breakdown

Scottish Child Payment × 2
£28.2/week per child under 16
Apply →
£2,932
Best Start Early Learning × 1
One-off payment between age 2 and 3.5
Apply →
£332
Best Start Foods (age 1–3) × 1
£22.4 every 4 weeks
£291
Glasgow City School Clothing Grant
£120 primary / £150 secondary
Apply →
£120
Free School Meals P1–P5 × 1
Universal free meal value — automatic in P1–P5
£475

Scotland vs England

In England, an equivalent family package excludes Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and the extended free school meal offer. Scotland-specific benefits alone are worth £1,466 per child per year from Scottish Child Payment — more than £23,000 per child over 16 years.