Quick Summary
- Scottish Child Payment is £28.20 per week per eligible child under 16 — worth £1,466.40 per child per year, paid every 4 weeks by Social Security Scotland
- You qualify if you receive a qualifying benefit — Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, or income-based JSA/ESA
- No cap on the number of children — a family with three eligible children receives £4,399.20 per year, on top of any other benefits
- Check what you're entitled to — use our Scottish Benefits Checker to see all Scotland-only payments you could claim
Scottish Child Payment is the flagship benefit of Scotland's devolved social security system. It doesn't exist anywhere else in the UK — no equivalent benefit is paid in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, have children under 16, and receive a qualifying benefit, you could be missing out on hundreds or thousands of pounds a year.
Quick Answer: Scottish Child Payment is a weekly £28.20 payment per eligible child under 16, paid by Social Security Scotland. You qualify if you're the main carer of the child, you live in Scotland, and you (or your partner) receive Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, or income-based JSA/ESA. Apply at mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or call 0800 182 2222. Payments start within a few weeks of a successful application and are made every 4 weeks.
How much is Scottish Child Payment in 2026/27?
£28.20 per week per eligible child. This was £26.70/week in 2025/26 — the rate increased in April 2026 as part of the annual 3.8% CPI uplift for Scottish benefits.
| Children | Weekly | 4-weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £28.20 | £112.80 | £1,466.40 |
| 2 | £56.40 | £225.60 | £2,932.80 |
| 3 | £84.60 | £338.40 | £4,399.20 |
| 4 | £112.80 | £451.20 | £5,865.60 |
| 5 | £141.00 | £564.00 | £7,332.00 |
There is no cap on the number of children. Unlike the UK Child Benefit two-child limit introduced under Universal Credit, Scottish Child Payment pays for every eligible child regardless of how many you have.
Who qualifies?
You must meet all of these conditions:
- You live in Scotland — ordinarily resident
- You're the main person responsible for a child under 16 — doesn't have to be your biological child
- You (or your partner) receive a qualifying benefit:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- The child is under 16 on the date you apply or the payment is made
You do not need to be working or not working. You don't need to be the child's biological parent — kinship carers, foster carers under certain arrangements, and step-parents who are the main carer all qualify.
What about Working Tax Credit only?
Families receiving only Working Tax Credit (with no Child Tax Credit element) do not qualify for Scottish Child Payment. The UK government is migrating all tax credit claimants to Universal Credit by the end of 2026 — once you move to UC, you'll qualify if your income is below the UC threshold.
What if I'm on Universal Credit but my earnings are high?
There's no earnings cap for Scottish Child Payment itself. What matters is whether your Universal Credit award is above £0. If you receive even a small amount of UC (say £5/month), you qualify. If your earnings are high enough to eliminate your UC entirely, you don't.
This creates a cliff edge that catches some families. If your UC award drops to zero because of a pay rise or bonus, your Scottish Child Payment stops too — potentially losing hundreds of pounds per month for a small increase in wages.
How to apply
Online (fastest)
Apply at mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment. The form takes around 15-20 minutes. You'll need:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your bank account details
- Details of your qualifying benefit
- Each child's full name and date of birth
- Your relationship to each child
By phone
Call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (free from mobiles and landlines). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. An adviser will complete the application with you.
In person
Social Security Scotland has local delivery offices across Scotland. You can get help with your application, provide evidence, and speak to an adviser face to face. Find your nearest office at mygov.scot.
By post
Request a paper form by calling 0800 182 2222. Complete and return it to Social Security Scotland.
When do payments start?
Most successful applications are processed within 4-8 weeks. Once approved, payments are backdated to the date you applied (not the date of decision). Payments are made every 4 weeks directly into your bank account.
If you're applying for a newborn, you can apply any time after the birth is registered. Payments will cover the period from your application date.
Does Scottish Child Payment affect other benefits?
No. Scottish Child Payment is completely disregarded as income for:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Child Benefit
- Any other means-tested benefits
Your Universal Credit award won't reduce because you're claiming SCP. It sits on top of everything else you're entitled to.
It's also tax-free — you don't declare it on Self Assessment and it doesn't count toward your personal tax allowance.
Try it yourself
See every Scotland-only payment you could claim alongside Scottish Child Payment — BSG, BSF, Carer Support, WHP, and ADP.
Open Scottish Benefits CheckerNo sign-up required.
What Scottish Child Payment is paid on top of
Families on Scottish Child Payment often qualify for several other Scotland-only payments at the same time:
| Payment | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Best Start Grant (Pregnancy & Baby) | £796.65 first child, £398.35 subsequent | During pregnancy or first 6 months |
| Best Start Grant (Early Learning) | £331.95 per child | Age 2–3½ |
| Best Start Grant (School Age) | £331.95 per child | Start of primary school |
| Best Start Foods | £5.14–£10.29/week | Pregnant or child under 3 |
| Winter Heating Payment | £62.75/year | February each year |
| Free school meals | Free | Primary 1–5 universal; older years means-tested |
| Free bus travel | Free | Under 22 |
For a family with one baby on Universal Credit, the combined package (SCP + Best Start Grant + Best Start Foods + Winter Heating Payment) can be worth over £3,000 in the first year — and that's before free childcare, Baby Box, and prescription exemptions are factored in.
Scottish Child Payment vs Child Benefit: the difference
Many families confuse these two payments. They're completely separate:
| Feature | Scottish Child Payment | Child Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Administered by | Social Security Scotland | HMRC (UK-wide) |
| Amount per child | £28.20/week | £26.05/week first, £17.25 subsequent |
| Means-tested? | Yes (requires qualifying benefit) | Only at £60k+ (HICBC clawback) |
| Available in | Scotland only | UK-wide |
| Taxable? | No | Subject to HICBC above £60k |
| Caps | None | Two-child limit on CTC/UC element only |
You can — and should — claim both if you're eligible. Child Benefit pays for every child regardless of income (though it's clawed back via HICBC above £60,000). Scottish Child Payment pays only to low-income families but stacks on top of Child Benefit.
How to check if you're already getting everything
Families often miss out because they don't realise they're entitled. The quickest ways to check:
- mygov.scot benefits checker — the official Scottish Government tool
- Turn2Us benefits calculator — free, independent, covers all UK and Scottish benefits
- Citizens Advice Scotland — free in-person advice (0800 028 1456)
- Your local Welfare Rights Officer — many councils have one; search "[your council] welfare rights"
Every year, hundreds of millions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed in Scotland simply because people don't know they qualify. A 10-minute check could add thousands to your annual income.
If you're on Universal Credit and have children, apply for Scottish Child Payment today — there's no downside to applying, and most UC claimants with children are eligible. Payments are backdated to your application date, so every day you wait costs you money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to reapply each year?
No. Once you're awarded Scottish Child Payment, it continues automatically as long as you remain eligible. Social Security Scotland will contact you if they need to verify your circumstances. If your qualifying benefit stops (e.g. your UC is closed), SCP stops too — so tell Social Security Scotland if your circumstances change.
What if my child turns 16 during the year?
Payments stop at the end of the week in which the child turns 16. If the child is still in full-time non-advanced education after 16, you may continue to qualify for Child Benefit (and Child Tax Credit / UC child element) but Scottish Child Payment does not extend beyond 16.
Can both parents claim for the same child?
No. Only the main carer can claim. If parents are separated and share care, usually the parent the child spends the most nights with claims. If care is truly 50:50, the parent who claims Child Benefit for that child claims SCP.
Do I qualify if I'm a kinship carer?
Yes. If you're caring for a child under a formal kinship care arrangement and receive a qualifying benefit, you can claim Scottish Child Payment. Local authorities sometimes pay kinship carers additional allowances on top.
What happens if I move out of Scotland?
Scottish Child Payment stops. It's a Scotland-only benefit, and you must be ordinarily resident in Scotland to receive it. Tell Social Security Scotland as soon as you move. If you move to England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, there is no equivalent benefit to replace it.
Is Scottish Child Payment changing in 2026/27?
The weekly rate increased from £26.70 to £28.20 in April 2026 (3.8% CPI uplift). No structural changes are planned. The Scottish Government has committed to maintaining the payment and uprating it annually with inflation.
Related Articles
- Scottish Benefits Guide 2026/27 — every Scotland-only payment explained
- Adult Disability Payment Scotland — the replacement for PIP
- Free Personal Care in Scotland — the universal care benefit
- Everything Free in Scotland — non-cash benefits worth thousands
- Scottish Benefits Checker Calculator — see what you're entitled to
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Benefit rates and rules can change — always verify with Social Security Scotland or mygov.scot, and speak to a welfare rights adviser for advice specific to your circumstances.
Sources: Social Security Scotland — Scottish Child Payment, mygov.scot — Scottish Child Payment, Scottish Government — Social Security uprating 2026/27