Pre-school low income benefit can be applied for from today

A new Scottish social security benefit for low income families has opened for applications today, 29 April.

The £250 early learning payment is for children aged between two to three and a half and can be used for anything from children’s clothes and shoes to toys, books or days out.

It is part of the Scottish Government’s new Best Start Grant package. This includes the pregnancy and baby payment, which has been open for applications since December, and the school age payment which will open in June, bringing the total number of Scottish Government benefits being administered by Social Security Scotland to four, including the carer's allowance supplement.

Best Start Grant is for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including universal credit, income support and housing benefit – and tax credits to help at key stages in a child’s life.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Since December, low income families have been eligible for a payment of £600 on the birth of a first child, and £300 on the birth of any siblings."

She explained that low income families would get a further £250 when their child started nursery, and from June the same again when their child started school.

Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville commented: "The Best Start Grant package will support 30,000 to 40,000 families this year – totaling an investment of £12m. This is £10m more than previously provided by UK Government support.

"The new £250 payment will help low income families around the time a child normally starts nursery, demonstrating this Government’s ambition to put more money into the pockets of families who need it most."

She added: "We are encouraging takeup for this benefit by simplifying the application process, providing a range of channels for people to apply and working with frontline service staff and undertaking promotional activity to ensure as many people as possible are aware they can access this support."