Children & Families

Family benefits

Family benefits, payments and support you can get.

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods

You could get payments form Social Security Scotland to help towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child.

Check if you can get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods

Scottish Child Payment

If you’re on a low income, you could get a weekly payment of £20 for every child you look after under 6 years old.

Check if you can get Scottish Child Payment

Child Benefit

You could get Child Benefit if you’re responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 and in approved education and training).

Check if you can get Child Benefit

Young Patients Family Fund

You could claim for the costs of food and travel if you’re the parent, carer or sibling of a young inpatient getting hospital care.

Read more about the Young Patients Family Fund

Guardian’s Allowance

You could get Guardian’s Allowance if you’re bringing up a child whose parents have died. You may also get it if there’s one surviving parent.

Read more about Guardian’s Allowance

Family Fund

If you’re raising a disabled or seriously ill child on a low income, Family Fund might be able to help with a grant for essential items.

Read more about Family Fund

Child maintenance

When one parent does not live with their child they must pay child maintenance even if they do not see them.

Read more about child maintenance

Parental Employability Support Fund

The fund can give support for parents facing barriers in their careers. Support could include help getting qualifications, improving skills and work experience.

Read more about the Parental Employability Support Fund

Under 22s free bus pass

All young people under 22 can get a free bus pass.

Check how to apply for an under 22s bus pass

Early years & childcare

Check what support you could get with early years and childcare.

Free early learning and childcare

All 3 and 4 year olds (and some 2 year olds) in Scotland can get 1140 hours per year of funded early learning and childcare.

Check what childcare you’re entitled to

Tax-free childcare

You can get up to £2,000 a year for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare.

Find out more about tax-free childcare

Universal Credit childcare costs

If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs.

Check if you can claim back childcare costs

Baby Boxes

The Baby Box is packed full of clothes, bedding and lots of other useful things to help give your baby the best possible start in life.

Read more about Baby Boxes

Students: Lone Parents’ Childcare Grant

This grant is for students bringing up a child or sibling on their own to help with the cost of registered childcare.

Read more about the Lone Parents’ Childcare Grant

School & college

Support you could get with education costs.

School clothing grants

Families on low income could get a school clothing grant. It’s £120 for primary aged children and £150 for secondary aged children.

Check if you can get a school clothing grant

Free school meals

All children in primary 1 to 5 get free school meals. Children after primary 5 could still get free school meals if you’re on a low income.

Check if your child can get free school meals

Free school transport

Your child could get free school transport if their school is not within walking distance, you’re on a low income or they have additional support needs.

Check if your child can get free school transport

Education Maintenance Allowance

EMAs give financial support to eligible 16 to 19 year olds who want to continue learning.

Check if your child can apply for EMA