Benefits and payments for single parents in Scotland

If money is tight after separating in Scotland, you may be entitled to more support than you think. The Scottish Child Payment gives eligible families a weekly amount for each child under 16, on top of Universal Credit.

The Best Start Grant helps with the early years, and One Parent Families Scotland offers specialist benefits advice for single parents. It's worth checking what you can claim.

In Scotland you claim Universal Credit the same way as elsewhere in Britain, but Social Security Scotland adds a layer of family payments on top. These Scottish payments are easy to miss because nobody applies for them automatically on your behalf, and they can make a real difference to a parent managing on one income. One application form covers the lot.

• Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment for each child under 16 if you get Universal Credit or certain other benefits, and it does not reduce any other UK or Scottish Government benefit you receive (mygov.scot).
• It needs a qualifying benefit to get you in the door; Child Benefit on its own is not enough, so if separation means you claim Universal Credit for the first time, that new claim can open up Scottish Child Payment too (mygov.scot).
• Best Start Grant gives one-off payments around pregnancy and a baby's arrival, early learning age and starting school, and Best Start Foods helps with food costs during pregnancy and your child's first year (mygov.scot).
• You can apply for Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods all on the same form, and you will get a separate decision letter for each (mygov.scot).
• Only one person can get Scottish Child Payment for a child, so after separating agree which parent applies to avoid a double claim being resolved for you (mygov.scot).

Checked August 2026 against mygov.scot.

Many separated parents miss out on support they are entitled to. It only takes a few minutes to check.

• Use a free, anonymous benefits calculator to estimate your entitlement.
• Tell the office about your change in circumstances promptly, so your payments are correct.
• Support often covers children's costs, housing, and low income.
• An independent adviser can check you are getting everything you should.