The Scottish Government’s new Early Learning Payment of the Best Start Grant only opened on Monday 29th of April but already there have been more than 6,000 applications.

The Best Start Grant is a package of three payments. It provides parents or carers who get certain benefits or tax credits with financial support during the key early years of a child’s life.

The Early Learning Payment is for children aged between 2 and 3 1/2 and can be used for anything from children’s clothes and shoes to toys, books or days out. It is worth up to £250.

The Best Start Grant currently includes 2 one-off cash payments:

• Pregnancy and Baby Payment
• Early Learning Payment

 A third – The School Age payment  will open for applications in June.

Parents can apply to Social Security Scotland for all Best Start Grant payments in a single application form. Click here: Best Start Grant

Shirley-Anne Somerville, Social Security Secretary in the Scottish Government said:

“The Best Start Grant package will support 30,000 to 40,000 families this year – totalling an investment of £12 million.

“This is £10 million more than previously provided by UK Government support.

“For a two-child family, the Best Start Grant package will provide total support of  £1900 – that’s £1400 more than they would get under the previous UK system.

“This shows the direct difference we are making to families across Scotland with our new powers over social security”