What is the Scottish Child Payment?

The Scottish Child Payment is a benefit for low income families who live in Scotland.

Since 14 November 2022 a payment of £25 per eligible child per week has been paid for children up to the age of 16.

Between its launch (it opened for applications on 9 November 2020 and payments started on 15 February 2021) and 14 November 2022 a payment of £20 per eligible child per week was paid for children up to the age of six.

Families will be entitled to the full payment if they are receiving, or have recently applied for, one of the following benefits:

• Child Tax Credit
• Universal Credit
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

This means each family will have a cut-off point when they stop being entitled to the Scottish Child Payment because they are no longer entitled to one of the benefits above. We will let you know at the end of your benefits calculation if you are close to your individual cut-off point.

As long as you meet the rules above there are no limits to the number of eligible children who can receive the payment in each household.

Only one person can claim the payment for each child. It will usually go to the person who is the main carer for the child as they receive Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit, the child element of Universal Credit or the child premium of Pension Credit for the child.

The payment will be made every four weeks and you can spend the money on anything that is useful for your family.

How can you claim?

The Scottish Child Payment is being administered by Social Security Scotland and you can apply online, by phone (call 0800 182 2222 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm), or by downloading a paper form.