Families urged to apply for grant

Politicians are calling on eligible families to apply for this year’s Best Start Grant School Age Payment.

Applications are now open for the payment, which is only available in Scotland, to families who get tax credits or certain other benefits and have a child who was born between March 1, 2016 and February 28, 2017.

It is part of five family payments delivered by Social Security Scotland that also include: Best Start Foods, Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and Scottish Child Payment.

Best Start Foods payments are set to increase to £4.50 per week on 1st August to support low income families to buy healthy food for children under the age of three.

Paisley MSP George Adam said: “The SNP Scottish Government is working to ensure that every child in Paisley has the best start in life and these payments – which have been described as game-changing – form part of that effort to build a fairer, more equal Scotland.