£1 billion in social security support for Scottish children

New figures show that the Scottish government’s five family payments have reached a landmark figure since their launch, giving over £1 billion in families across Scotland to end child poverty and supporting them through school.

Recent statistics released from Social Security reveal that between February 2021 and September 2024, £905.60 million have been paid out in Scottish Child Payment and a further £172.30 million since the launch of Best Start Foods.

This makes the total of this available financial support over £1 billion, and is delivered by Social Security Scotland through its five family payments: Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment, Best Start Grant School Age Payment, Best Start Foods.

Scottish Child Payment, launched 15th February 2021, gives over £100 every four weeks until a child is 16; Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment is a one off payment of up to £754.65 between 24 weeks pregnant and the child turning six months old; Best Start Early Learning Payment is a one off £314.45 to help with early learning costs when a child is between two and three years and six months. Furthermore, Best Start Grant School Age payment is another payment of £314.45 to help with the costs of starting school when a child is old enough to start primary one, and Best Start Foods offers up to £42.40 every four weeks from pregnancy up until when a child turns three to buy healthy food.

These payments support children throughout key stages from pregnancy and birth, to starting school and supporting them throughout education until they are 16.

The Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and Best Start Grant School Age Payment, both of which geared towards supporting a child as they start learning, are particularly groundbreaking in that they are only available Scotland.

Cabinet secretary for social justice, Shirley-Anne Summerville said: “Ending child poverty is the Scottish government’s single greatest priority. At a time when families are struggling with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, we have been delivering payments which offer vital support to families and children at key stages in their lives.

“There is help during pregnancy and in the months after a baby is born; help paying for early learning; help with that all important first day at school and help with buying the healthy, nutritious food that is vital for developing children.

“Then there is the unique Scottish Child Payment. More than 235,000 children and young people were benefiting from the payment by the end of September 2024. Our modelling projects Scottish Child Payment will keep 60,000 children out of relative poverty in 2024-25.”