Automatic payments introduced for Best Start Grant Early Learning and School Age Payments

Social Security Scotland began making automatic payments of two Best Start Grant payments on 14 November 2022, according to guidance published on mygov.scot that day¹. Families getting Scottish Child Payment whose child meets the age conditions no longer need to apply for the Early Learning Payment or the School Age Payment; Social Security Scotland checks eligibility itself¹. The change was announced on the Scottish Child Payment pages of mygov.scot, which state: "To make things easier, we can now make automatic payments for certain benefits without the need to apply."¹

The two payments covered are each worth £331.95 per child¹. The Early Learning Payment is for children aged between 2 years old and 3 years 6 months old¹. The School Age Payment is paid in the year a child is first old enough to start school, and the application window depends on the child's date of birth¹:

You cannot apply before or after those dates, and no application is possible for a child born before 1 March 2015¹. People can still apply and get the School Age Payment if a child is deferring starting school, and can still apply for the Early Learning Payment if their child is not taking up a place at nursery².

The automatic route does not cover everything. Social Security Scotland "cannot automatically pay Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment or Best Start Foods", and families still need to apply for those¹. The Pregnancy and Baby Payment is £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for subsequent children, with applications open from the end of the 24th week of pregnancy until the baby is 6 months old¹. In some circumstances people may get the higher £796.65 for a subsequent child, including people forced to leave home because of domestic abuse, some people granted refugee status and some carers who took on responsibility for a child over the age of 1². Best Start Foods is paid every four weeks at £22.40 during pregnancy, £44.80 for each child from birth until their first birthday, and £22.40 for each child aged between one and three¹.

Families who do not get Scottish Child Payment must still apply for the Early Learning and School Age Payments separately¹. Social Security Scotland sends a text message or email to say it is checking eligibility, and a letter stating the amount if a payment is made; the payment reference appears in a bank account as the National Insurance number followed by "SSS BSG"¹. Payments can arrive before the letter because of postal delays¹. Families can opt out by calling 0800 182 2222 or using webchat¹. The payments are grants that do not have to be repaid and are not taken into account in UK benefit assessments².

Why it matters for households

The change affects families in Scotland already receiving Scottish Child Payment, worth £112.80 every four weeks for children until their 16th birthday². For a child in the relevant age band, the £331.95 Early Learning or School Age Payment now arrives without a claim being submitted, from 14 November 2022¹. Families not on Scottish Child Payment are unaffected by the automatic route and remain responsible for applying¹. The Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods are outside the automatic arrangement, so a claim is still needed for both¹. Turn2us notes that a new claim is needed for each grant as a child reaches the relevant age, so a Pregnancy and Baby Payment claim does not carry over to the Early Learning Payment when the child turns two⁴.

What happens next

Social Security Scotland says families must report changes of circumstances, as these may affect payments¹. The published School Age Payment windows run to 28 February 2025 for children born between 1 March 2019 and 29 February 2020, and to 28 February 2026 for children born between 1 March 2020 and 28 February 2021¹. Applications can be made online, by phone on 0800 182 2222 between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday to Friday, or by post².