One-off school grant

Families with children starting school in South Lanarkshire this year could be eligible to apply for a one-off grant.

The council is urging families to check if they are eligible for the Best Start Grant School Age Payment, and applications are open for children old enough to start primary school.

The one-off payment of £267.65 is available to help at a key stage in a child’s life and can be used for anything from books or arts and crafts to a new pair of shoes.

The grant is available to families who get Universal Credit, tax credits or certain benefits with children born between March 1, 2017, and February 28, 2018.

Those who have deferred their child’s entry to school from August 2022 to August 2023, or those homeschooling should still apply before February 2023 or they will lose out on their payment. There is no cap on the number of children in a household who can get this payment.

Chairwoman of South Lanarkshire Council’s education resources committee, Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, said:“I would encourage anyone who thinks they may qualify for this payment to check if they are eligible, and if so to apply for the grant as soon as possible.

“It can be used for whatever your child needs, and I am sure it will be very welcome given the rising costs so many families are facing at the moment.”

Best Start Grant School Age Payment is one of the Scottish Government’s five family payments administered by Social Security Scotland. The package includes Scottish Child Payment, three Best Start Grants, and Best Start Foods.

From the end of this year, both the Best Start Grant School Age Payment and the Best Start Early Learning Payment will be paid automatically to families who get Scottish Child Payment when their child is of eligible age.