Payments add up with £250 for families on low incomes

New payments of £250 for every child when they start school and nursery have been announced for lowincome families.

The money is intended for everything from children’s clothes and shoes to toys, books or days out.

The payments are part of the Scottish Government’s new Best Start Grant package. This and Baby Payment, which has been open for applications since December, and the Best Start Grant School Age payment, which will open in June.

When the School Age Payments begin in June, the Best Start Grant package, along with Carer’s Allowance Supplement, will bring the total number of Scottish Government benefits being administered by Social Security Scotland to four.

Low-income families in Scotland have been eligible for a payment of £600 on the birth of a first child and £300 on the birth of any siblings since December.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told SNP delegates yesterday: “I can announce today that lowincome families will get a further £250 when their child starts nursery … and from June they will get the same again when their child starts school.”