Families across Scotland may be entitled to a wide range of benefits, grants and one-off payments designed to help with the cost of raising children. Low income households could also be eligible for help with heating bills and Council Tax.
Overview of Available Support
Support is available through Social Security Scotland, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), with some payments aimed specifically at low-income households or families with disabled children. Social Security Scotland administers and delivers more than a dozen benefits for families, parents and carers including Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grants, Child Disability Payment, School Clothing Grants, free school meals and Carer Support Payment.
Scottish Child Payment
This is a payment of £28.20 per week, per child - £112.80 every four weeks - to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16 for families who get certain benefits including Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support. This is a separate payment to Child Benefit - delivered by HMRC - for families in Scotland only.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is paid by HMRC to parents or guardians responsible for raising children. Families can receive £27.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.90 a week for additional children.
Universal Credit Child Element
Parents claiming Universal Credit may receive additional support for children as part of their monthly payment. The amount depends on when children were born and household circumstances.
Best Start Foods
This is a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food including milk, fruit and vegetables. The weekly payment rates are: Higher rate - £11.20; Lower rate - £5.60.
Best Start Grant - Pregnancy and Baby Payment
This one-off payment helps with the costs of having a new baby. Eligible families can receive £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for other children.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
Families may receive £331.95 when a child is between two and three-and-a-half years old. The payment is intended to help with early learning and childcare costs.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment
This is a one-off payment of £331.95 in 2026/27 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits.
School Clothing Grant
Councils across Scotland offer School Clothing Grants to help parents buy school uniforms. The amount available depends on the local authority.
Free School Meals
Children in eligible households may qualify for free school meals.
Baby Box
Every newborn child in Scotland is entitled to a free Baby Box. The box includes essential items such as clothes, books and bathing products.
Child Disability Payment
This is extra money - up to the value of £778.40 every four weeks in 2026/27 - to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ongoing health condition. It replaced Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the DWP. Weekly payment rates: Daily living - Lower care award: £30.30, Standard: £76.70, Enhanced: £114.60; Mobility - Standard: £30.30, Enhanced: £80.00.
Child Winter Heating Payment
This is an annual payment to help families of youngsters up to the age of 19 on the highest rate care component of disability benefits and worth £265.50 in winter 2026/27. This payment provides support for people on Disability Living Allowance for Children, Child or Adult Disability Payment.
Council Tax Reduction
Families on low incomes may qualify for help reducing Council Tax bills. The amount awarded depends on income, savings and household circumstances, but is typically around £900 a year.
Carer Support Payment
People caring for a disabled child for at least 35 hours a week may qualify for Carer Support Payment of up to £86.45 a week. The benefit has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland.
A full guide to all the financial support available to families in Scotland can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
