What is the Scottish Child Payment?

It’s a new payment for families on certain benefits or tax credits to help towards the costs of looking after a child. £40 is paid every four weeks for each child under six.

It opens on Monday 15 February 2021 but applications are being taken now to help manage demand.

Who can apply?

You can apply for Scottish Child Payment whether you are in work or not.

You may be eligible if you, or your partner, are the parent or full-time carer of a child who will be aged under six on 15 February 2021 and if you receive certain benefits or tax credits.

(Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit, Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)).

How many children can qualify per household?

Every child under six in a qualifying family will receive a payment.

How to apply

You can apply online at https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment/ or via the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222, or by post.

Why are people being asked to apply now?

There is expected to be a huge demand for this new payment. Encouraging people to apply now means that Social Security Scotland can check that they have all the information and evidence needed to make a decision once the benefit starts on Monday 15 February.

What evidence will be required?

You will need to provide evidence that you are responsible for a child under six, usually through the child being named on a benefits claim. If more than one person applies for the same child, a process is in place for deciding who gets the payment, and the person who the child lives with for the majority of time will be prioritised.

Kinship carers can demonstrate responsibility for a child with a legal order or letter of support from a local authority.