How do I apply for Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods in Scotland?

What am I applying for — grant, foods, or both?

Best Start is not “Scotland’s Sure Start” with a different logo. Social Security Scotland pays Best Start Grant (three one-off payments) and Best Start Foods (a prepaid card every four weeks). mygov.scot (last updated 10 August 2026) sets the windows and the live figures.

mygov.scot says you can use Pregnancy and Baby Payment for anything you need, and lists pregnancy clothes, a pram, a cot, baby clothes and toys. Parent Club uses the same pram / cot examples. Best Start Foods is the food card — Parent Club lists eggs, plain cow’s milk, first infant formula, fruit, vegetables and pulses.

Who can apply, including under-18 and under-20 rules?

The who should apply page (updated 10 August 2026) says you or your partner normally need to live in Scotland, be pregnant or have a child of the right age, be the main person looking after the child, and get one of: Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, Pension Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance. You can apply while waiting for a decision on one of those. Child Benefit on its own is not enough.

These under-18 / under-20 rules are not the same as Sure Start Maternity Grant:

• Under 18: you do not need to be on any payments or benefits. You can apply for Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods yourself. A parent or carer can apply for you if they get Child Benefit, Universal Credit child payments, or the Pension Credit child addition for you (or they are your kinship carer) — they must phone or use the paper form, not the online form.
• 18 or 19 and not on benefits: you can still apply if your parent or carer gets Child Benefit, Universal Credit child payments, or the Pension Credit child addition for you. You cannot apply online; phone 0800 182 2222 or use the paper form.
• Looking after someone under 20 who is pregnant or a young parent: you can apply for Pregnancy and Baby Payment or Best Start Foods if that person is named on your or your partner’s Child Benefit, Universal Credit or Pension Credit claim (or you have kinship evidence).

How do I apply on one form?

Most people apply online. mygov.scot says the form takes around 10 to 20 minutes and cannot be saved. Have your name, date of birth, address, National Insurance number if you have one, bank / credit union / building society details, your partner’s name and date of birth if you have a partner, and details of children you care for.

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   Choose Foods now, grant from 24 weeks — or both on one form Apply for Best Start Foods as soon as you know you are pregnant. Add Pregnancy and Baby Payment once you have reached the end of the 24th week (or after the birth, until 6 months). One Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods form can cover both. A second combined PDF on mygov.scot also includes Scottish Child Payment — Social Security Scotland still sends separate decision letters.
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   Apply online, unless you are in a phone-or-post group You cannot apply online if you are 18 or 19 and not on benefits but a parent or carer claims for you; you are applying for a young parent under 20; you do not have a permanent address; you do not have a bank account and have agreed another DWP payment method; or you are applying for someone who cannot manage their own affairs. Then use 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) or the paper form.
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   Do not send a second application while one is pending mygov.scot says reapplying for the same child while you are waiting can delay the decision.
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   If you get Scottish Child Payment later Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment can be paid automatically when the child is the right age. Pregnancy and Baby Payment and Best Start Foods are not automatic — you still apply. Do not opt out of automatic payments unless you mean to apply separately.

Paper forms sit at https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-forms: a Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods form, and a combined Scottish Child Payment + Best Start form. If you have no access to public funds, mygov.scot says you may still be able to get Best Start Foods — tell Social Security Scotland when you apply.

Can I use a Sure Start Maternity Grant form instead?

No. GOV.UK says if you live in Scotland you cannot get a Sure Start Maternity Grant. mygov.scot says if a Sure Start Maternity Grant was already paid for this baby, Pregnancy and Baby Payment is not payable for that child. Moving from England, Wales or Northern Ireland does not unlock a second baby payment for the same child.

In shortUse Social Security Scotland’s form. Foods from pregnancy, Pregnancy and Baby Payment from 24 weeks, spend that grant on what the household needs — mygov.scot’s examples include a pram and a cot. Under-18s do not need a qualifying benefit. Do not post SF100 to Freepost DWP SSMG from a Scottish address.