What financial support is there for families in Scotland?

If you’re struggling to make ends meet as a family, there are a number of grants and loans available in Scotland that can ease the pressure, particularly if you’re on a low income or are in serious debt.

Can I use a Best Start Grant?

The Best Start Grant consists of three separate payments that help parents on a low income and receiving certain benefits to cover the costs of bringing up a child. If you’re eligible, you could receive: Pregnancy and Baby Payment

• £600 single payment for the first child
• £300 for each subsequent child

This is intended to help pay for equipment such as a pram, cot, or maternity clothes. An application can be made from the end of week 24 of your pregnancy until your baby is six months old. Early Learning Payment

• £250 one-off payment for a child aged between two years and three and a half years

The Early Learning Payment is designed to cover the cost of bringing up a child of pre-school age – perhaps paying for home learning equipment, books, or days out. School Age Payment

• £250 one-off payment

The School Age Payment is available to claim from 3^rd June 2019, and is intended to help you pay for school-related items such as a school bag, educational day trips from school, or other extra-curricular activities. Applications for the Best Start Grant can be made online via the Scottish government website, by telephoning Social Security Scotland, or by post.

Budgeting loans

If you’ve claimed certain welfare benefits for six months, you may be eligible to apply for a budgeting loan from the government. These loans are interest-free and allow people and families on low incomes to pay for important items they wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford. These can include the costs of moving home for example, furniture, payment of rent in advance, property maintenance, improvements to home security, or costs associated with job-hunting, but this list is not exclusive. Loans start at £100 but you could be eligible for up to around £800 if you or your partner receives Child Benefit payments. Loans should be repaid within two years and are deducted from your benefits, with weekly amounts being dependent on your income. You can apply for a budgeting loan online or by using paper form SF500. If you’re successful you’ll receive a letter outlining the loan terms - if you agree the terms you need to sign and return the letter, and the loan amount will be credited to your bank account within around 12 working days.

Free debt advice for families in Scotland

If your family requires financial support, Scotland Debt Solutions can provide tailored advice on all of the above grants and loans. We also offer guidance on escaping debt using the various schemes available in Scotland, including the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) and Debt Management Plan (DMP)