If your child is aged between four and five, we encourage you to apply for School Age Payment.

The one-off £250 payment is currently open to eligible families with a child who was born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016 and who is old enough to start primary one this year. Parents or carers have until the closing date on 28 February 2021 to apply.

The payment can be used for anything from a new pair of shoes to books or arts and crafts materials.

The payment is part of the Best Start Grant, a package of three payments for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit and tax credits – to help at key stages in a child’s life.

More information can be found about it here:

Social Security Scotland: Best Start Grant

We also have information about financial support available to families on our Useful Websites page.