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.
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.
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.