This is an overview of the financial help that may be available from pregnancy to school age. It includes how universal credit (UC) can help you qualify for certain types of help, and other assistance that is available as well as universal credit.

You can download a PDF version of this factsheet at the bottom of the page.

On this page

During pregnancy

Free vitamins

All pregnant women in Scotland qualify for free vitamins, regardless of income. Ask your GP or health visitor how to get them.

Best Start Foods

A pre-paid payment card for milk, fruit, vegetables, pulses and eggs, worth £5.40 a week, or £10.80 a week for child under 1.

You qualify if you are pregnant, or responsible for a child under 3 and receiving:

  • UC
  • housing benefit or
  • pension credit.

You can also qualify if under 18 or aged 18/19 and a dependant in someone else's claim for child benefit.

You can qualify if you are responsible for a child under 3 and cannot get benefits due to your immigration status, if your monthly family income is below a certain level, depending on your circumstances – see mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/public-funds-access

Claim by phoning 0800 182 2222 or online at mygov.scot.

You continue to get credits on the card for 8 weeks if your UC, pension credit or housing benefit ends. If you notify Social Security Scotland that you are entitled through UC, pension credit or housing benefit again within 12 weeks, you can become entitled to Best Start Foods again without having to make a claim.

Best Start Grant: Pregnancy and baby payment

£767.50 to help with the costs of pregnancy or a new baby if you have no other children under 16 living with you; or £383.75 if you have other children aged under 16 living with you. The higher rate is payable in some cases, e.g. if you have fled domestic abuse or are a refugee.

There is one £383.75 supplement if you have a multiple birth.

You qualify if you are:

  • aged under 18 (regardless of income or benefits); or
  • aged 18 or 19 and a dependant in someone else’s benefit claim because you are still in school or college; or
  • you or your partner are entitled to:
    • universal credit (UC). You must have been getting any amount of UC in the monthly assessment period in which you apply, or the one before that. You are still entitled if your UC has been reduced to nil because of a sanction.
    • pension credit; or
    • housing benefit.

Claim by phone on 0800 182 2222 or apply online or download a claim form from mygov.scot.

Claim within six months of the birth even if waiting for a universal credit decision, then contact Social Security Scotland when awarded.

If you are not the parent or parent’s partner, and have become responsible for a baby (e.g. as a kinship carer), you may qualify and can claim before the baby’s first birthday.

Free dental treatment

Pregnant women, and new mothers within one year of the birth qualify for free dental treatment. See also health benefits[link to add] for eligibility at other times.

Ask your dentist or phone NHS Inform on 0800 22 44 88.

Dental treatment is free for children/ young people under 26.

NHS Minor Ailment Service – free medicines on advice of local pharmacy

Pregnant women, new mothers within one year of the birth and for children up to 16, or under 19 in full-time education can get free medicines for common illnesses without prescription from a GP.

Ask your local pharmacy how to access the service. You can find your local pharmacy on the NHS Inform website.

Prescriptions are free in Scotland.

Help with NHS costs dental treatment, glasses, fares, wigs, fabric supports

Dental treatment, vouchers for glasses, wigs and fabric supports are free for children under 16, or under 19 in full-time education.

You qualify for yourself if you get universal credit, and monthly earnings £935 or less if you have children. You may also qualify if you get benefits or tax credits replaced by UC.

You can find out more by phoning the NHS Helpline on 0845 850 1166 or by visiting the NHS Inform website. See also NHS Scotland leaflet HCS2 on the Scottish government website.

Statutory maternity pay

Employed women qualify for Statutory maternity pay (SMP) if they  have:

  • been continuously employed with the same employer for at least 26 weeks, ending with the 15th week before the expected week of childbirth (EWC).
  • average gross weekly earnings of at least £125 a week over at least 8 weeks, ending with the 15th week before the EWC.

Tell your employer and provide MATB1 certificate. You can choose payment to start at any point from 11 weeks before expected week of childbirth, to the day after your baby is born. SMP is payable for 39 weeks.

If an employer dismisses a pregnant woman at any time, solely or mainly to avoid paying SMP, they are still liable to pay SMP, providing she has been employed for at least eight weeks. She may also claim unfair dismissal.

If you are an employee, you are entitled to statutory maternity leave of 52 weeks and the right to return to work, even if you do not meet the conditions for SMP or MA.

Some employers may provide more maternity pay under the terms of your contract.

If there is a dispute contact Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0300 322 9422.

Read more about maternity pay and leave on gov.uk.

Maternity allowance

Maternity allowance (MA) can be topped up by universal credit. MA is for women who do not qualify for SMP and have been:

  • employed or self-employed for at least 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before the EWC (the 26 weeks do not have to be continuous); and
  • had average weekly earnings of at least £30 a week in any 13 weeks in the 66 week period; or
  • helping out unpaid in their spouse or civil partner’s business for at last 26 weeks in the 66 weeks before EWC.

You can claim on form MA1 from gov.uk, or contact Jobcentre Plus by phone on 0800 055 6688 (textphone: 0800 023 4888).

Universal credit

If you were on jobseeker’s allowance, you should usually claim UC from 11 weeks before the due date, so that you don’t have to look for work. Your first payment is usually made one month and seven days after your claim. You can request an advance, which you will have to pay back.

If you're getting UC already, your claimant commitment should be changed so that you no longer have to look for work. You don't have to look for work for the period 11 weeks before your baby is due to 15 weeks after the birth.

You cannot be sanctioned for failing to meet work-related requirements during this period.
If you already have a sanction from an earlier date, the sanction should be reduced so that you receive 60 per cent of your personal allowance in this period.

You can claim UC online at gov.uk, or contact the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 (textphone: 0800 328 1344).

For a couple, the partner would usually still have to meet all their work-related requirements. They should notify their work coach of when the baby is due, and as soon as possible if they need to be with you when you go into labour.

Employment and support allowance

Women with sufficient National Insurance contributions, not working 16 hours or more a week can get new-style (contributory) employment and support allowance (ESA) from 6 weeks before the expected week of childbirth to 2 weeks after the birth. You can also qualify at other times due to illness or if risk to self or baby, or if entitled to maternity allowance during pregnancy.

Baby box

You can register for a baby box when you're about 20-24 weeks pregnant. It is a box of basic items, with a total value of over £100, and the box is also suitable for babies to sleep in. All pregnant women resident in Scotland, regardless of income, can get a baby box if they want one.

You can get the baby box as well as other help which you qualify for such as the Best Start grant. Speak to your midwife to register. For more information see the See the parentclub website.

From birth

Best Start Foods

Parents who did not qualify during pregnancy may now qualify through universal credit or immigration status and low income (see above).

Remember to notify Best Start Foods of the birth to continue getting credits on your payment card.

Best Start grant: Pregnancy and baby payment

Parents who did not qualify during pregnancy (see above) may now qualify through universal credit if they apply within six months of the birth. 

People taking on responsibility for a baby may qualify if they apply before the child's first birthday.

Vitamin D

All breastfeeding women and children under 3 are entitled to free vitamin D supplements, regardless of income. Ask your midwife, health visitor or GP. There is more information on gov.scot.

Child benefit

Nearly all families with children can qualify for child benefit, except for some due to immigration status. Claim within three months of the birth.

Child benefit is recovered via income tax at a rate of 1 per cent for every £200 from an individual earning over £60,000. It is still payable to all families, regardless of income and should be claimed to protect the national insurance record for state pension.

Claim online or download a claim form from gov.uk, or contact the child benefit helpline on 0300 200 3100 (textphone: 0300 200 3103).

You can get child benefit as well as Scottish child payment and universal credit child elements.

Child benefit is payable at £26.05 a week for the eldest child and £17.25 a week for other children.

There is no limit to the number of children child benefit is payable for.

Universal credit (including child element)

Make sure you report the birth in the monthly assessment period in which your baby is born. If you are asked to provide further information or evidence, you should usually do so within 14 days.

If you were not getting universal credit before your baby was born, you should usually claim now. If you were already getting UC, you should report the birth.

A child element of £292.81 a month is payable for a new baby. UC is paid to people who are in or out of work, depending on income. You do not have to have paid NI contributions or be a taxpayer.

You may not receive this extra amount of UC for a new baby if you already have two or more children. There are exceptions to this ‘two child limit’. If you are affected by the two child limit, you should still report the birth as an amount may become payable for childcare, disability, or if an older child no longer qualifies.

If you are a full-time student, you can get UC if you are responsible for a child.

You cannot get UC if you have more than £16,000 in capital or savings unless you are moving from tax credits.

You have no work-related requirements when you are responsible for a child under the age of one. If you are part of a couple, this only applies to the one who has main responsibility for the child.

You can claim UC online at gov.uk, or contact the UC helpline on 0800 328 5644 (textphone: 0800 328 1344).

You can request an advance of your first payment following a new claim or birth of a new baby.

You can request flexible payments in Scotland so that you are paid twice a month and the amount for rent goes direct to your landlord if you choose.

Scottish child payment

£27.15 a week for each eligible child, if the parent is ordinarily resident in Scotland, responsible for a child under 16, entitled to a qualifying benefit:

  • universal credit
  • pension credit

Apply online or download a claim form from mygov.scot. Or you can apply by phone or request a claim form on 0800 182 2222.

You can get Scottish child payment as well as child benefit and universal credit child elements.

There is no limit to the number of children Scottish child payment is payable for.

Statutory paternity pay for fathers/partners

Statutory paternity pay (SPP) is a payment by the employer to the father of a baby, or to the mother’s partner. It is for working fathers or the mother’s partner who:

  • have been continuously employed by the same employer for at least 26 weeks ending with the 15th week before the EWC, and until the child is born;
  • have average gross weekly earnings of at least £125 a week, over at least 8 weeks ending with the 15th week before EWC;
  • are caring for the baby or supporting the baby’s mother.

Ask your employer at least 28 days before you want your leave to start if possible. SPP is payable for 2 weeks within the first 8 weeks. If there is a dispute contact Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0300 322 9422. There is more information on gov.uk.

Statutory shared parental pay

this is a payment made by an employer – mother and partner can agree to share leave and pay.
Mothers and working fathers, or the mother’s partner as above, qualify if:

  • the baby’s mother has been entitled to SMP or maternity allowance, but has given it up to opt for shared parental pay;
  • the father or partner meets the conditions for paternity pay
  • the mother and father or partner must still be employed by the same employer during the shared parental pay period.

You should ask your employer at least eight weeks before you want your leave to start. SSPP can start from at least 2 weeks after the birth (4 weeks if mother works in a factory). If there is a dispute contact Statutory Payments Disputes Team on 0300 322 9422. There is more information on gov.uk.

Statutory neonatal care pay

Parents of a child born on or after 6 April 2025 who is for at least 7 days receiving neonatal care in hospital, or after discharge under the direction and monitoring of the hospital, or palliative or end of life care, starting within 28 days of the day after birth. To qualify for statutory neonatal care pay, parents must qualify for SMP/SPP/SAP or have worked for the same employer for at least 26 weeks, and earned at least £125 a week in 8 weeks before neonatal care starts. Both parents can qualify. 

If you are an employee, you are entitled to statutory neonatal care leave, even if you do not meet the conditions for statutory neonatal care pay.

Statutory neonatal care leave and pay can be taken for the number of full weeks that a baby is in nenonatal care, for a minimum of one week and a maximum of 12 weeks, to be taken within the first 68 weeks of a baby's birth. Statutory neonatal care leave and pay can be taken after other types of leave and pay, not at the same time.

Tell your employer. There is more information on gov.uk

Going back to work

Childcare element of universal credit

You can get childcare costs if you have an offer of a job to start in your next monthly assessment period. You must report childcare costs in the assessment period in which you have paid, or the following one. the childcare element gives you help with 85 per cent of registered childcare costs, up to a monthly limit payable of £1,031.88 for one child or £1,768.94 for two or more children.

You can get help with costs of registered childcare if you are in work, any hours, as long as the amount of childcare is not considered excessive.

Couples must usually both be in work, unless the non-working partner has limited capability for work or is temporarily absent from home.

The childcare element can continue to be paid for childcare costs in the monthly assessment period after you have stopped work.
The childcare element can continue to maintain childcare arrangements while you are on SMP, SSP or SSPP.

If you need help to pay for childcare costs in advance before you can start work, ask your local jobcentre to make a payment from the Flexible Support Fund. This does not have to be paid back, and you can also get 85 per cent of total childcare costs reimbursed at the end of your monthly assessment period.

You can also request a budgeting advance, but this has to be paid back.

Tax-free childcare

Tax-free childcare is not a helpful option for low income families because it cannot be paid at the same time as universal credit. 

If your income is too high to get universal credit. The government will pay £2 for every £8 the parent pays into an online account, which can only be used to pay registered childcare providers. The maximum contribution from the government is £2,000 per child a year (£4,000 if the child is disabled). It is available to families with individual incomes up to £100,000 a year.

You can find more information on the childcare choices website.

Pre-school

Best Start Grant: early learning payment

This is £319.80 per child to help with costs in the early years. Your child does not need to have started in early education/childcare. It is up to you what you spend it on and do not have to provide receipts.

You qualify if you are responsible for a child of school age and you or your partner:

  • are entitled to a qualifying benefit (as for the pregnancy and baby payment); or
  • are aged under 18 (regardless of income or benefits);
  • aged 18 or 19 and a dependant in someone else’s benefit claim because you are still in school or college.

If you are not the parent and have become responsible for a child in this age group (e.g. as a kinship carer), you may qualify.

Claim by phone on 0800 182 2222 or apply online or download a claim form from mygov.scot.

Claim from second birthday to age 3 and a half, even if waiting for a universal credit decision, then contact Social Security Scotland when awarded.

If you get Scottish child payment, the early learning payment can be made automatically.

Free early education and childcare place

All three and four-year-olds whose parents want one are eligible for a free early education and childcare place of 1,140 hours a year (around 30 hours a week during term-time). Your child is also entitled to free milk and a healthy snack.

You may qualify for a free early education and childcare place for a two-year-old if you are getting:

  • universal credit and earning no more than £850 in the monthly assessment period before you apply;
  • asylum support from the Home Office.

Contact your local authority or find more information on mygov.scot.

Children who are looked after, under a kinship care order or with a Parent Appointed Guardian are also eligible from their second birthday.

Once you qualify for a childcare place, it continues to be provided even if you no longer get a qualifying benefit or earn over the limit.

Contact your local authority childcare information service or find more information on the Parentclub website.

Bookbug

Bookbug provides free books at four stages from baby to Primary 1, 2 & 3. It is a Scotland-wide scheme providing free books with no mean-test.

Bookbags are given out by Health Visitors, libraries, nurseries and schools during the autumn term.

For more information contact the Scottish Book Trust on 0131 524 0160 or see the Scottish Book Trust website.

Play@home

Play@home is a Scotland-wide scheme providing free books for parents of all children, regardless of income. Health visitors gift the first two books and nurseries gift the third book. Activity sheets also available in Polish.

You can find more information on the Play Scotland website.

School age

Best Start Grant: School-age payment

This is a payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of starting school. Your child does not actually have to have started school. It is up to you what you spend it on, and you do not need to show receipts.

You qualify if you are responsible for a child born from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 (and claim between 1 June 2025 and 28 February 2026) and you or your partner:

  • are entitled to a qualifying benefit (as for the pregnancy and baby payment); or
  • are aged under 18 (regardless of income or benefits);
  • aged 18 or 19 and a dependant in someone else’s benefit claim because you are still in school or college.

If you are not the parent and have become responsible for a child in this age group (e.g. as a kinship carer), you may qualify.

Claim by phone on 0800 182 2222 or apply online or download a claim form from mygov.scot.

You can claim at any time within the nine month application window. If you are waiting for a universal credit decision, you should still claim the payment within this window and then contact Social Security Scotland when awarded.

If you get Scottish child payment, the school age payment can be made automatically.

Free school lunches

All P1-5 pupils attending school are entitled to free school meals.

P6 & P7 pupils are entitled to free school meals if you are getting Scottish child payment.

For other pupils, a parent or carer must be getting universal credit and earning no more than £850 in the monthly assessment period before you apply. 

If your child is in P1-5 and also eligible for free school meals due to UC or asylum support, you should still apply for free school meals to make sure that you get any additional support available during the school holidays.

Free school meals may also be available on a discretionary basis, for example if you are getting pension credit, or you are not entitled to benefits due to your immigration status. 
To apply, contact your local authority.

School clothing grant

School clothing grants are also available under similar criteria, although this can vary locally.
The school clothing grant is payable at a minimum of:

  • £120 per child of primary school age
  • £150 per child of secondary school age. 

Free bus travel

All 5-21 year olds in Scotland qualify for free bus travel, regardless of household income or benefits.

Find out how to apply at freebus.scot
 

Warmer Homes Scotland

This scheme provides help with fuel costs, insulation, and heating. Anyone can get advice to reduce bills. Pregnant women and families with a child under 16 on tax credits or UC may qualify for free central heating and insulation.

For more details phone Home Energy Scotland on Freephone 0808 808 2282 or visit the Energy Saving Trust website.

Child Maintenance Service

This service gives information for separated parents about their child maintenance arrangements. Phone: 0800 171 2345 or find more information and apply online at gov.uk.

Help in other circumstances

Child disability payment (CDP)

Children with care needs can qualify from three months old (or earlier if terminally ill). Children with mobility needs can qualify from three years old. Receipt of CDP for a child also means additional universal credit.

Claim by phone on 0800 182 2222 or apply online at mygov.scot.

Child winter heating assistance

Child winter heating payment is an annual payment (£255.80 in 2025).

It is paid to families with a severely disabled child, aged 18 or under and entitled to the highest rate of the care component of CDP, or the enhanced rate of the daily living component of personal independence payment.

It is paid automatically regardless of other income, savings or benefits.

Funeral support payment

This is a grant to help with the costs of a funeral when a partner, child, relative or close friend has died. You can qualify if you are getting universal credit or other benefits and are responsible for the funeral costs. You can claim from the date of death up to six months after funeral.

Claim by phone on 0800 182 2222 or apply online or download a claim form from mygov.scot.

Statutory parental bereavement leave and pay

If a baby is stillborn after 24 weeks of pregnancy or a child under the age of 18 dies.

All employees have the right to two weeks-off.

Tell your employer. There is more information on gov.uk
 

Scottish welfare fund grants

These are grants for people on a low income. A community care grant can be paid to families under exceptional pressure. A crisis grant may be paid to help with living expenses in an emergency.
Contact your local authority to apply.

Housing benefit

Housing benefit can help with rent for people of working age in supported or temporary accommodation, or people of pension age liable for rent. It can be paid whether in or out of work.

Contact your local authority to claim.

Discretionary housing payments

People receiving universal credit housing costs but not enough to cover their rent in full can ask for a discretionary housing payment. Guidance says families with school-age children may be a priority.
Contact your local authority to apply.

Council tax reduction

People liable for council tax,  can get council tax reduction. It depends on income, but can be paid whether in or out of work.

Contact your local authority to apply.

Kinship care allowance

People looking after the child of an extended family member or friend may get a kinship care allowance from their local authority. Kinship care allowance can depend on the care arrangements, which can also affect entitlement to child benefit and universal credit.

Contact your local authority for details and see also kinship care and benefits - the essentials.

Statutory adoption pay

If you are adopting a child of any age. SAP is payable for 39 weeks if you meet earnings conditions as for SMP. All employees have the right to 52 weeks adoption leave.

Ask your employer. If there is a dispute, contact Statutory Payments Disputes Team 0300 322 9422.

There is more information on gov.uk

Help with Prison Visits

Help with travel costs for people who get universal credit or other benefits and are visiting a partner, child or close relative in prison.

See also financial help for families affected by imprisonment.

You can get an application form from the prison, or download it from gov.uk. or [email protected] 
Telephone: 0300 063 2100

Young Patients Family Fund

This funds gives help with costs of travel, food or accommodation to the parent, primary carer or sibling under 18 of a baby, child or young person under 18 in hospital, regardless of income or benefits. Find more information and a claim form on mygov.scot. Forms should be returned to hospital or the health board.

Download the factsheet

Financial help in the early years (PDF version)