Benefits for Expectant Mothers, Children and Families

Statutory Maternity Pay and Leave

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks. You get:

• 90% of your average weekly earnings (before tax) for the first 6 weeks. 

• £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.

To qualify for Statutory Maternity Leave you must:

• be employed by your employer up to the date of birth,
• earn at least £123 a week (before tax),
• give the correct notice, and
• have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks up to any day in the ‘qualifying week’.

The ‘qualifying week’ is the 15th week before the baby is due. This is different if you adopt.

Statutory Paternity Pay and Leave

The statutory weekly rate of Paternity Pay is £184.03, or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower).

To qualify for Statutory Paternity Pay you must:

• be employed by your employer up to the date of birth,
• earn at least £123 a week (before tax),
• give the correct notice, and
• have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks up to any day in the ‘qualifying week’.

The ‘qualifying week’ is the 15th week before the baby is due. This is different if you adopt.

Statutory Adoption Pay and Leave

Statutory Adoption Pay is paid for up to 39 weeks. The weekly amount is:

• 90% of your average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks,
• £184.03 or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) for the next 33 weeks.

To get Statutory Adoption Pay you must:

• have been continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks by the week you were matched with a child,
• earn on average at least £123 a week (before tax),
• give the correct notice, and
• give proof of the adoption or surrogacy.

Maternity Allowance

You could get either:

• £184.03 a week or 90% of your average weekly earnings (whichever is less) for 39 weeks, or
• £27 to £184.03 a week for 39 weeks if you’re self-employed, or
• £27 a week for 14 weeks if you do unpaid work for your spouse or civil partner’s business.

You may be eligible for Maternity Allowance if you:

• do not qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay.
• are self employed,
• have recently stopped working,
• take part in unpaid work for the business of your spouse or partner.

You can use the maternity entitlement calculator to check your eligibility.

Best Start Pregnancy and Baby Payment

A payment of £754.65 for the first child and £377.35 for any other child.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

You can apply for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment any time after you have reached the end of the 24th week of pregnancy up until 6 months after the birth, or if you become responsible for a child under 1, and are on certain benefits or you are under 18.

Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment

A payment of £314.45.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

You can apply when your child is aged between 2 years old and 3 years 6 months old, and are on certain benefits.

Best Start Grant School Age Payment

A payment of £314.45.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

You do not need to apply for Best Start Grant School Age Payment if you already get Scottish Child Payment for this child.

You can apply in the year your child is starting school, and are on certain benefits.

Best Start Foods

Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that you can use to buy healthy foods if you or your partner are pregnant or for a child under 3. You can use the card in shops and online.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

You can apply for Best Start Foods as soon as you or your partner are pregnant, or up until your child turns 3 years old, and are on certain benefits*.  You do not need to be on any benefits if you are under 18. The amount depends on age of your child.

You may be able to get Best Start Foods for your child if you are under 20 or cannot get certain benefits because of your immigration status.

Baby Box

All newborn babies in Scotland will be given a box of essential items, containing things like:

• clothes, from newborn up to 6 months,
• a digital under arm thermometer,
• a bath towel,
• a changing mat, and
• books.

The box also has a mattress, mattress protector and a fitted sheet.

The baby box is free and your midwife will help you register for it during your 20 to 24 week antenatal appointment your midwife will:

• explain the baby box to you and ask if you would like one,
• fill in a baby box registration card with you, and
• arrange delivery.

You don't need to do anything else. You'll get the baby box between weeks 32 to 36 of pregnancy.

Child Benefit

Child Benefit is a payment if you’re responsible for bringing up a child who is:

• under 16
• under 20 if they stay in approved education or training

Only one person can get Child Benefit for a child.

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

Tax Credits

Tax Credits consist of Child and Working Tax Credit elements.  Tax Credits have been replaced by Universal Credit for most people.

You can only make a new claim for tax credits if you get the severe disability premium or got it in the past month and are still eligible for it.

Scottish Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £26.70 that helps towards the costs of supporting your family if you have a child aged under 16.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

You may be able to get Scottish Child Payment if all of the following apply:

• you live in Scotland,
• you or your partner are getting certain benefits or payments, or
• you or your partner are the main person looking after a child who's under 16 years old.

Tax Credits are ending, and you will  have to claim Universal Credit instead.  

Managed migration is taking place and you will receive a letter called a Universal credit Migration Notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) explaining what you’ll need to do, and by when.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs if you are on a low income or out of work. It’s paid monthly, or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

If you don’t have enough to live on while you wait for your first payment you may be able to get an advance of your first Universal Credit payment.

You may be able to get Universal Credit if:

• 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, and
• you live in the UK.

Jobseekers Allowance

You can apply for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) to help you when you look for work.  Jobseekers Allowance has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people.

You can only apply for contribution-based and income-based JSA if you either:

• get the severe disability premium, or are entitled to it, or
• got or were entitled to the severe disability premium within the last month and are still eligible for it, 

You may be able to apply for ‘new style’ JSA.

Employment Support Allowance

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

You can only apply for Employment Support Allowance if you either:

• get the severe disability premium, or are entitled to it, or
• got or were entitled to the severe disability premium within the last month and are still eligible for it.

You may be able to apply for ‘new style’ ESA.

Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.

You can only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if one of the following is true:

• you’re getting the severe disability premium, or are entitled to it,
• you got or were entitled to the severe disability premium within the last month and are still eligible for it,
• you have reached State Pension age,
• you live in temporary accommodation, or
• you live in sheltered or supported housing with special facilities such as alarms or wardens.

If not, you’ll need to claim Universal Credit instead.

Council Tax Reduction

Council Tax Reduction can help you pay your council tax if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.

You could be eligible if you’re on a low income or claim benefits. Your bill could be reduced by up to 100%. You can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working. If you live in West Dunbartonshire you can claim online.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who has a mental or physical disability.

The DLA rate(s) depend on the level of help the child needs.

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

Your child must be:

• is under 16, and
• has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) when they turn 16.

From Spring 2022, families living in Scotland currently getting Disability Living Allowance for children will have their benefit will be transferred automatically to the new Scottish Child Disability Payment. Their payments will not change and will be paid at the same rates and at the same time as their Disability Living Allowance was.

Child Disability Payment (CDP) provides support for the extra costs of looking after a child who has a mental or physical disability. 

The CDP rates depend on the level of help the child needs.

You can apply online or by telephone on 0800 182 2222.

If you need more support, you can also ask Social Security Scotland for an appointment with their Local Delivery service.

The Social Security Scotland Child Disability Payment is open for first time applications. Do not apply if you already receive Disability Living Allowance for your child.

Your child must:

• live in Scotland,
• be under 16, and 
• have a mental or physical disability.

You can also apply for Child Disability Payment if the disabled child does not have a diagnosis, by telling about how they're affected and any symptoms they may have.

Social Security Scotland will pay Child Disability Payment until the child is 18.

Carers Allowance

You could get Carers Allowance if you care for someone and are under the earnings threshold of £151.00 per week.

If you are a young carer 16-18 and live in Scotland, you may be eligible for a Young Carer Grant

You must care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. 

If you do not qualify for this and you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week, you may be entitled to Carers Credit, which is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record.

Free School meals and Clothing Grants

You may be entitled to free school meals and/or a clothing grant to assist with cost of school uniforms if you have children and live in West Dunbartonshire.

Free nursery/school meals and the footwear and clothing Grant are available for parents on low income, and on certain benefits.f you live in West Dunbartonshire you can claim online.

Educational Maintenance Allowance

An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a Scottish Government initiative aimed at helping young people stay on in education. 

You may be eligible for an EMA if you are aged 16-19 and attend a West Dunbartonshire school or in receipt of an Activity Agreement, and meet the income threshold.  If you live in West Dunbartonshire you can claim online.

NHS dental care

Free NHS dental care while you’re pregnant and for a year after the baby is born.  You may also qualify for help if on a low income.

Fill out the Maternity Exemption form (FW8), available from your doctor or midwife.  You can pick up the HC1 form for the Low Income Scheme, available from community pharmacies, GP practices, Citizens Advice Bureau and Jobcentre Plus offices.