Best Start Grant School Age Payment

General Criteria for Qualifying for the Best Start Grant Payments

There is a certain qualifying criterion that you must meet to be eligible to claim any of the Best Start Grant Payments.

While each of the Best Start Grant Payments has different qualifying criteria, they all stipulate that you should: -

• Live in Scotland
• Either you or your partner receive certain benefits or tax credits
• You or your partner are pregnant or are the main person looking after a baby or child who is the right age for payment.

It should also be noted that you cannot get either Best Start Grant if you only receive Child Benefit.

School Age Payment

Social Security Scotland opened applications for the School Age Payment in Summer 2022. This vital payment will help parents with the startup costs associated with children starting school.

How Can I Apply for the School Age Payment?

From the 28^{th of} November 2022 a Best Start Grant Auto Award will be in place. This will mean that all clients receiving Scottish Child Payment will be automatically assessed for the payments of both School Age Payments and the Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment.

Instead of applying, from the 28^th of November clients will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland advising that they are reviewing their case for an automatic award of Best Start Grant.

If the client is to be awarded the School Age Payment, they will receive both a determination letter and the payment.

Up until the 28^th of November, the specific time that you should apply for this grant will depend on when your child was born.

For example, the application window is between the first of June in the year the child is old enough to start school until the last day of February in the following year.

As well as receiving one of the qualifying benefits, to receive the School Age Payment you must: -

• Have a child that is old enough to start school. However, your child does not have to take up a place at school.
• You cannot apply for a School Age Payment for a child born before 1^st March 2014.
• You need to apply for the School Age Payment in the year that your child is first old enough to start school

This payment is available to those with a child of school age. However, you will still need to apply in the year that your child is first old enough to start school if: -

• You’re deferring when your child starts school
• Your child is not going to school

How Much is the School Age Payment?

The School Age Payment is a one-off payment paid at the rate of £294.70 per child and has been designed to assist with the costs that surround when a child starts primary school.

While you can spend the payment how you like you may wish to purchase items which are associated with the startup costs of a child starting school such as uniforms, stationary and after-school clubs.

What If My Circumstances Change?

If your circumstances change then it is important that you inform Social Security Scotland so that they can update your details and ensure that you do not break the law and in turn receive the right benefits.

Before informing Social Security Scotland of a change in circumstances you will also need to alert HMRC, your local council and the Department of Work and Pensions.

You should get in touch with Social Security Scotland if the following information changes: -

• Your name changes
• Your address changes
• You move house
• You stop getting a benefit
• You’re living circumstances have changed such as a partner no longer living with you
• You’re pregnant
• You’re no longer looking after a child
• You have started to look after a new child
• You’re contact details have changed

You can notify Social Security Scotland of these changes by either completing an online form or by phone on: 0800 182 2222.