School Age Payment is now open for applications until 28 February 2026.
The payment is £319.80 per child, for children born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021. It is one of our Best Start Grant payments and only available in Scotland. People have until midnight on 28 February 2026 to apply.
The money is available to parents and carers, on certain benefits, to help with any costs of their child starting school and is available for all eligible children from the same household.
School Age Payment is paid automatically to people who get Scottish Child Payment. People who do not receive Scottish Child Payment, or who have opted out of automatic payments, should apply.
A person may be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods if they or their partner meet these conditions:
• live in Scotland
• are pregnant or have a child who’s the right age for a payment
• are the main person looking after the child
• get certain benefits (people under 20 years old who do not get one of these payments, may still be able to get Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods)