Best Start Grant School Age Payment - Apply Now

19th February 2024

School Age Payment is a payment of £294.70 per child to help with the costs of preparing for school when a child is first old enough to start primary school. The child does not have to have taken up a place at school, however, applications should still be made in the year that the child is first old enough to start school, even if the parent / carer decides to defer when the child starts or the child is not going to school.

When to apply for the School Age Payment depends on when the child was born. Those who have children born between 1 March 2018 and 28 February 2019 should apply by 29th February 2024, applying after this date will be too late.

What affects who can apply:
• Under 18s do not need to be in receipt of any payments or benefits to apply for Best Start Grant;
• Over 18s can apply whether they are in work or not, as long as they receive one of the following:
- Universal Credit;
- Child Tax Credit;
- Working Tax Credit - this is Working Tax Credit with Child Tax Credit for Best Start Foods;
- Housing Benefit;
- Income Support;
- Pension Credit;
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA); or
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Note that Child Benefit on its own is not a qualifying benefit - the applicant must still be getting one of the benefits from this list above.

If someone has applied for one of the above benefits they can still apply for Best Start Grant School Age Payment if they are awaiting the outcome of this application.

How to apply:
Applications can also be made directly online
https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/how-to-apply and usually take around 15 minutes to complete, there is the option to complete a paper application form which can be downloaded (or can be requested by phone).

Alternatively, you can make your application over the phone by calling 0800 182 2222.