Best Start grant school age payment

The Best Start grant school age payment is £331.95 for each child born between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022 for families getting universal credit, pension credit or housing benefit. 

These children are eligible to start school in August this year, but the school age payment is still payable if their school place has been deferred. 

The current window for applications is open from 1 June 2026 to 28 February 2027. The family do not need to be getting universal credit throughout this period; even receiving it one monthly assessment period would be enough to qualify. 

For families who are receiving the Scottish child payment, they should receive the school age payment automatically and do not need to apply. 

For more information and other payments for children in Scotland see Children and young people | CPAG