The Best Start Grant is a package of 3 grants that will give money to parents and carers on low income during the early years of a child's life.

  • The Pregnancy and Baby Payment - £707.25 for the first child and £353.65 for the second or subsequent child
  • Early Learning Payment - £294.70 one-off payment for children aged between 2 and 3 years and 6 months old
  • School Age Payment - £294.70 one-off payment for child normally starting Primary 1

Pregnancy and Baby Payment

Is a one off £707.25 payment for the first born child and £353.65 for other children. There will be an extra £353.65 if you have multiple births.

This payment replaces the Sure Start Maternity Grant.

Who can get the Pregnancy and Baby Payment?

This payment does not affect any other benefits and is payable if you are in or out of work, if you satisfy the following:

  • You must live in Scotland
  • You are eligible if you are the parent or carer of the child and in receipt of one of the following benefits:-
    • Universal Credit
    • Income Support
    • Income Related Job Seekers Allowance
    • Income Related Employment Support Allowance
    • Pension Credit
    • Housing Benefit
    • Child Tax Credit
    • Working Tax Credit
  • Parents are eligible from the 24th week of pregnancy and applications can be made up until the child is 6 months old
  • If you are under 18 you are automatically eligible and don’t have to be on a qualifying benefit
  • You would also be eligible if you are 18 or 19, in full time education or training and dependent on someone else like a parent or carer who is claiming child benefit, child tax credit, pension credit or universal credit for you

If your child was stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy or if your child has died, you can still get a Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

How much Pregnancy and Baby Payment will I get?

The Pregnancy and Baby Payment - £707.25 for the first child and £353.65 for the second or subsequent child.

You will be awarded £707.25 if there are no other children living in your household under the age of 16 that you are responsible for. You are responsible for a child if you receive child benefit, child tax credit or the child element of Universal Credit for them.

If this is your second or you have more children living in your household - You will be awarded £353.65. If you have any child living in your household under the age of 16 they will be counted as a first child. You are responsible for a child if you receive child benefit, child tax credit or the child element of Universal Credit for them.

If you have multiple births, you will be awarded an additional £353.65 for each child – If you are expecting twins and this is your first child with no other child under the age of 16 in the household you are responsible for, you would receive a payment of £1414.55 (£707.25 first twin, £353.65 second twin and £353.65 for multiple births. You are responsible for a child if you receive child benefit, child tax credit or the child element of Universal Credit for them.

If you are expecting twins and you are responsible for another child under the age of 16 you would receive a payment of £1,060.95 (£353.65, first twin, £353.65 second twin and £353.65 multiple births). You are responsible for a child if you receive child benefit, child tax credit or the child element of Universal Credit for them.

How to apply

By telephone:

Social Security Scotland

You can also download and print a paper copy. Details of who to send it back to are on the form.

If English is not your first language, you can:

  • apply over the phone in any of over 100 languages
  • ask for a paper form to be sent to you in any of over 100 languages