Parents to receive baby fees

The Scottish Government’s first Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payments will be made to Renfrewshire parents before Christmas.

The payment will see eligible applicants receive £600 for their first child.

It replaces the Department of Work and Pensions’ Sure Start Maternity Grant.

The payment also provides £ 300 for all subsequent children, with no cap on the number of children it supports.

In addition to the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, by next summer, two additional early years payments will be introduced.

The first £ 250 payment will be made around the time a child starts nursery, to help with the costs of early learning and a further £250 when they start school.

Social Security secretary, Shirley- Anne Somerville said: “I am delighted we will be delivering the Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment earlier than originally planned, providing low income families with increased financial support.

“I am particularly pleased, that by not capping children, babies born in the last six months who already have a big brother or sister, and had no support from the UK Government because they were not the first child, will be eligible to get their payment.

“With the Early Learning and School Age Payments this means that for a two child family, the Best Start Grant will provide £1,400 to £1,900 more than they would get under the UK legacy benefit. That’s a substantial investment to ensure our under fives get the best possible start in life and reflects this government’s emphasis on the early years.

“Our focus on supporting people on low incomes, and the action we are taking stands in stark contrast to the UK Government, who last week was criticised by the UN Poverty Rapporteur for being in denial about the damage and misery that their welfare cuts were causing.”

The new beefit will be delivered by Social Security Scotland.

Parents/ carers will be eligible if they are the mother of the child, her partner, or have a young mother dependent on them, and get certain qualifying benefits.

Qualifying benefits include Universal Credit, Income Support, Income- based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.