A Best Start School Age Grant is to be introduced in Scotland. It will be open for applications from the 3rd of June and is part of the new Social Security Scotland.

Those eligible can get £250 to help with things such as educational toys and after school activities.

Scotland’s Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment has already paid out £1.3million in its first month of operation. This new payment will help those with children at school.

The Best Start School Age Grant is open to parents and carers who are in receipt of : Universal Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

For young people who are under 18 or 18/19 in full time education and who are still fully dependent on  parents/carers – applications can be made without being in receipt of any of the above benefits.

Social Security Scotland was established after some  powers over welfare payments were devolved to the Scottish Parliament. The Scottish Government has used it to top up many of the existing welfare payments including Universal Credit which was not devolved and is delivered by the UK Government.