Benefits for parents, children and young people

Many parents are entitled to financial support to help with the cost of having a baby or bringing up a child. The following is a list of financial support which may be available to you during pregnancy, once you have had a baby or when you have become responsible for a child, eg through adoption.

Financial/ "in-kind" assistance	What is it?	Who qualifies?
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment	A payment of £754.65 for your first child and £377.35 for any other child.	If you are at least 24 weeks pregnant (or have given birth within the last 6 months or become responsible for a child under 1) and get certain benefits. You can upload evidence in support of your application for the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment to Social Security Scotland.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment	A payment of £314.45 for children aged 2 to 3 years 6 months.	If you get certain benefits. You can upload evidence in support of your application for the Best Start Early Learning Payment to Social Security Scotland.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment	A payment of £314.45 in the year your child should be starting school.	If you get certain benefits. You can upload evidence in support of your application for the Best Start School Age Payment to Social Security Scotland.
Best Start Foods	A prepaid card to spend on fresh eggs, milk (including formula), fruit, vegetables and pulses.	If you get certain benefits and are pregnant and/or have children aged 3 or under. Apply as soon as you know you're pregnant. You can upload evidence in support of your application for Best Start Foods to Social Security Scotland.
Statutory Maternity Pay	A weekly payment of 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks then £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.	You must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before the due date of your baby and have average gross earnings of at least £123 per week.
Statutory Paternity Pay	A weekly payment of £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).	You must be the child's biological father or adopter, the mother's partner or have responsibility for the child's upbringing. You must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before the due date of your baby and have average gross earnings of at least £123 per week.
Statutory Adoption Pay	A weekly payment of £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for up to 39 weeks.	You must have worked for your employer for at least 26 weeks before the week you were matched with a child and have average gross earnings of at least £123 per week.
Maternity Allowance	A weekly payment of £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for up to 39 weeks.	You may get Maternity Allowance 11 weeks before your baby is due if you do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.
Child Benefit	£25.60 per week for your first child and £16.95 for each subsequent child.	If you are responsible for a child or qualifying young person.
Scottish Child Payment	A weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for every child you look after who's under 16 years of age.	If you get certain benefits. You can upload evidence in support of your application for the Scottish Child Payment to Social Security Scotland.
Child Winter Heating Payment	A payment of £251.50 for children and young people up to the age of 18.	If on on at least one day in the third full week of September they were resident in Scotland and getting the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for children or Child Disability Payment.
Young Carer Grant	A yearly payment of £383.75 if you are a carer aged 16, 17 or 18 years old.	If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 years old. you've been caring for one or more people for around 16 hours a week, for the last 3 months the person or people you care for are getting certain benefits
Universal Credit	If you are making a new claim for benefit (including help to cover rent or mortgage costs) or if you are in receipt of certain benefits and you have a change in circumstances then you will have to make an application for Universal Credit.
Council Tax Reduction	Help to assist people on a low income with meeting the costs of council tax.
Tax-Free Childcare	You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).	Your eligibility depends on: if you're working (employed, self-employed, or both) your income (and your partner's income, if you have one) your child's age and circumstances your immigration status. You cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.

Losing a baby

Statutory Maternity Pay and Statutory Paternity Pay are payable if your baby is stillborn after 24 weeks pregnancy or if your baby is born alive, even just for a brief moment, and then dies, irrespective of the number of weeks.

A stillbirth occurring in Scotland must be registered within 21 days.

If your baby is stillborn before 24 weeks pregnancy other assistance may be available and individual advice should be sought by contacting Welfare Rights.

Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, provides support for anyone affected by the death of a baby.

Claiming Child Disability Payment for a child

If you have a child aged between 3 months and 16 who is disabled or affected by a long-term health problem, they may qualify for Child Disability Payment. It is tax-free and is disregarded as an income for means-tested benefits. If awarded, you can get an increase in Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit.

An award of Child Disability Payment may entitle the recipient to a bus pass and/or a Blue Badge for parking.

A person caring for a child with an award of Child Disability Payment may be able to claim Carer's Benefits.

Children and young people in hospital

Children and young people under 18 years old continue to be paid their Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Child Disability Payment while in hospital. New claims for Child Disability Payment or PIP can also be made for them and if awarded the benefit would go into payment. Connected benefits such as Carer Support Payment/Carer's Allowance and the Motability scheme may also continue so long as the rules for them are satisfied.

If you're the parent, primary carer or sibling (aged under 18) of a young inpatient under the age of 18 receiving hospital care, you can claim for the costs of travel and food through the Young Patients Family Fund.

Being turned down for benefit

If you have been turned down for a benefit or have received a decision that you are not happy about, you can ask for the decision to be looked at again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration or re-determination. If the decision is not revised in your favour, you can appeal against the decision.