Application conditions:​

• you’re on a low income or out of work​
• you’re 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you’re 16 to 17)​
• you’re under State Pension age (or your partner is)​
• you and your partner have £16,000 or less in savings between you​
• you live in the UK​

Supports:​

If you have 1 or 2 children, you’ll get an extra amount for each child. The amount you could get depends on when your children were born.​

Learn more here            ​

Application conditions:​

You normally qualify for Child Benefit if you’re responsible for a child under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in approved education or training) and you live in the UK.​

You may have to pay back some of your Child Benefit in tax if your (or your partner’s) individual income is over £50,000.

Supports:​

It’s paid every 4 weeks and there’s no limit to how many children you can claim for.​

Application time:​

You can claim Child Benefit as soon as you’ve registered the birth of your child, or they come to live with you.​

Eldest or only child​

£21.15 (weekly)​

Additional children​

£14 per child (weekly)

Frequency of payments:

paid every 4 weeks

Learn how to claim here

You can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).

Your eligibility depends on:​

• if you are working​
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)​
• your child’s age and circumstances(Child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. If your child is disabled you may get up to £4,000 a year until they’re 17.)​
• your immigration status​
• you cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.​

​Learn more here

You can get Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit for your child, depending on your circumstances and how much other income you have.

You may still qualify if you’re on maternity leave or when you go back to work.

If you already have 2 or more children in your family, you might not get any additional Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit for a new baby.

GOV.UK has more about Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit

You may be eligible for following support:

• Apply for free school meals

Check if your child can get free school meals and find out how to apply on your local authority’s website.

• Healthy Start

If you’re pregnant or have a child under 4, this scheme can help you buy basic foods like milk or fruit.

• Parents’ Learning Allowance

You may be eligible for help with your learning costs if you’re a full-time student with children.

The Baby Box helps families prepare for the arrival of their baby.

Scotland’s Baby Box is packed full of clothes, bedding and lots of other useful things to help give your baby the best possible start in life. The Box also provides a safe and comfy place for your wee one to sleep. It comes complete with a mattress and bedding that fits perfectly.

To get the box, your midwife will fill in a Baby Box registration card with you between your 18-20 or 28 week appointment. Your midwife will send this card away to register you for your Baby Box, so you won’t need to do anything else.

Learn more here

You can get a Pregnancy and Baby Payment of £606 for your first child.

You can get £303 for any child that comes after your first. For example, your second or third child, or any child after these.

You can use the payment for anything you need. This could include:

• pregnancy clothes
• a pram
• a cot
• baby clothes
• toys

Learn more here

Early Learning Payment is a payment of £252.50 per child to help with the costs of early learning. You can get the payment when your child is aged between 2 years old and 3 years and 6 months old. To get this payment your child does not need to go to nursery.

You can get Early Learning Payment for multiple children, as long as each child is the right age when you apply.

You can spend this money on anything you need for your child at this age. This could include:

• clothes
• toys
• trips to new places

​

Learn more here

School Age Payment is a payment of £252.50 per child. It helps with the costs of preparing for school when your child is first old enough to start primary school.

You can get the payment for multiple children, as long as each child is the right age when you apply.

To get a payment, your child does not have to take up a place at school. You’ll still need to apply in the year that your child is first old enough to start school, if:

• you’re deferring when you child starts school
• your child is not going to school

You can spend this money on anything you need for your child at this age. This could include:

• clothes
• school trips
• stationery for school

Learn more here

Application conditions:​

From 1 August 2021, your child can get free meals in school if you get: ​

• Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £625) ​
• Income Support ​
• income-based Job Seeker’s Allowance ​
• income-based Employment and Support Allowance ​
• support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 ​

Your child is also entitled to free school lunches if you get: ​

• Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,105 ​
• Both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and have an income of up to £7,500​

Supports:​

• Free school meals​
•  Some local councils and schools offer other free food and drink for pupils including free: milk, breakfast, fruit.​

Application time:​

You can apply as soon as you start to get one of these benefits.

 ​

Learn more here