Families in Orkney urged to make sure they don't miss out on school age payment

Parents and carers in Orkney are being urged to check whether they should apply for Best Start Grant School Age Payment as this year’s deadline approaches.

The payment if for those families who get qualifying benefits or tax credits and who have a child born between 1 March 2017 and 28 February 2018 (a child aged five or who turns five this month).

Applications for the one-off payment of £267.65 per child, which can be used for books, bags, clothes and equipment for school, have to be submitted by midnight on the 28 February closing date.

The Scottish Government introduced automatic payments for Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment in November 2022. Parents and guardians who get Scottish Child Payment will get School Age Payment automatically when their child reaches eligibility and within the School Age Payment window of 1 June to 28 February.

There are some people who don’t qualify for Scottish Child Payment that could be eligible for School Age Payment, including those who get housing benefit.

There may be others who choose not to apply for Scottish Child Payment who can still apply for School Age Payment. There are also parents and guardians who opted out of automatic payments so they could have more control around when they receive this money. All of these people are being urged to check if they could be due School Age Payment and to apply if they do.

For more information and to apply please visit mygov.scot/beststart or call 0800 182 2222