MSP urges parents to double check benefits
Parents and guardians from across Renfrewshire could be missing out on over potentially £250 in benefits or tax credits.
That’s the message being issued from Renfrewshire North and West MSP Natalie Don who is urging caregivers to make sure they’re getting what they are entitled to.
Parents and guardians who get qualifying benefits or tax credits – and who have a child born between March 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 – are being urged to check whether they should apply for best start grant school age payment as the February 28 deadline approaches.
This one-off payment of £267.65 per child can be used for books, bags, clothes and equipment for school.
The Scottish Government introduced automatic payments for early learning payment and school age payment in November last year.
And those who already receive these benefits will automatically get the school age payment when their child reaches eligibility and within the school age payment window of June 1 to February 28.
However, it’s believed there are some people who don’t qualify for Scottish child payment that could be eligible for school age payment – including those who get housing benefit.
In addition, there may be others who choose not to apply for Scottish child payment who can still apply for school age payment.
There are also parents and guardians who opted out of automatic payments so they could have more control around when they receive this money.
All of these people are being urged to check if they could be due school age payment and to apply if they do.
Ms Don said:“If you have a child in the family aged five, or who turns five this month, then you could be eligible for school age payment.
“We are making it easier than ever to apply but we still ask people to check and make sure they know what they are entitled to.
“Making these payments automatic, where we have the information to do so, will enable us to get this money to families at key stages in their child’s development and when they may face additional costs.”