Strengthening income maximisation in Scottish schools

Providing income maximisation advice in schools can make a big difference. It ensures families get the support they're entitled to and helps to tackle child poverty. Services that exist across Scotland report significant financial gains for families and success in reaching those at highest risk of poverty, alongside associated benefits for children and young people. 

However access to income maximisation advice across Scotland is inconsistent. 

Project activities 

To change this picture and ensure that more families get the advice they need, we're carrying out two pieces of work during 2026/27: 

• Recommendations to inform future provision​: research with schools, advice services and partners to explore what's needed to embed income maximisation in schools, developing recommendations for Scottish Government to improve consistency of provision across Scotland
• Practical resources for schools: online professional learning and an eLearning course focusing on payments for children in Scotland, positive approaches to reduce stigma and routes to support

How you can be involved

If you work in a school, as an adviser, in a local authority or in any other relevant organisation or setting, you can help to inform and support this work: 

1. Share views, experiences and needs in your school or local area to inform the recommendations​

2. Review and test the recommendations to help get them right​

3. Join our school staff testing group, advising on and piloting resources for schools

4. Share this information with colleagues or contacts who might be interested in contributing, or pass on their details to us

Contact Sara Spencer at [email protected] if you'd like to take part. 

The difference income maximisation makes to families