Best Start Grants and Baby Payments

The Best Start Grant is a package of three payments that will give extra money to low income families during the early years of a child’s life.

The three payments are:

  • Pregnancy and baby payment – eligible parents / carers can get a £642.35 payment for their first child, £321.20 for any subsequent children
  • Early learning payment – eligible parents / carers can get a £267.65 payment for each child, paid around the time of starting pre-school / early learning
  • School Age Payment – eligible parents / carers can get a £267.65 payment for each child, paid around the time of starting school

Best Start Foods

Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that you can use to buy healthy foods for children under 3. The payments of Best Start Foods are:

  • £18 every 4 weeks during pregnancy
  • £36 every 4 weeks from your child being born up until they're a 1 year old
  • £18 every 4 weeks between the ages of 1 and 3

For information on Best Start Grants, Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods, including eligibility and how to apply, families can visit the mygov.scot website - Best start grants and Best start foods or call the Agency on 0800 182 2222.

You can apply online for the Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods on the mygov.scot website (the link to the online application form is at the bottom of the page)

Apply online

If you don’t agree with a decision after your claim has been decided

The Scottish Social Security agency has a standard process for claimants who do not agree with a decision on their claim. If you want to challenge the decision they have made on your claim with them directly you can do so here on the mygov.scot website:

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