Benefits for Fife families - don't miss out this December

This article is more than 1 year old

There are a range of benefits available for families.

Check the table below and follow the links at the end to apply.

Remember – if you receive Free School meals that triggers automatic payments of:

  • The final Scottish Child-Bridging payment of £260 - if you've Free School Meals in place before the 21 Dec, and
  • An extra payment in lieu of Free School Meals during the holiday periods.

If you haven’t applied before – check and apply now.

Check out the table below for more information on what you might be entitled to.

Benefit name

Children aged 0-5

( pre-school age)

Children aged 6-15

Young people aged 16+ remaining in education

Scottish Child Payment

Apply to Social Security Scotland if you are in receipt of:

  • Universal Credit
  • Child Tax credit
  • Working Tax Credit
  • Job Seekers Allowance ( Income Based)
  • Pension Credit
  • Income Support
  • Employment Support Allowance ( Income Based)

£25 per week, per child.

Entitled

£25 per week, per child.

If you are already receiving the Scottish Child Payment for younger children, just add your 6-15 year old’s to your existing claim rather than make a new application.

Not entitled

Free School Meals- Universal Entitlement

For all P1-P5 children, regardless of income and no application is required.

Not entitled

Entitled

Not entitled

Free School Meals & School Clothing Grant

Apply to Fife Council if in receipt of:

  • Universal Credit, where monthly earned income does not exceed £660
  • Income   Support
  • Job   Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
  • Employment   and Support Allowance (Income Related)
  • Child   Tax Credit only with annual income below £17,005
  • Child   Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit with annual income below £7,920
  • Support   under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999

Not entitled

Entitled

Application must be made for children P1-P5 in order to receive the clothing grant and the other benefits listed below, despite a Universal Entitlement being in place automatically.

Clothing grant for each child:

  • £170 for Primary school aged
  • £200 for Secondary School aged.

Entitled

£200 School Clothing Grant for each secondary school aged young person.

Scottish Child Bridging Payment

Paid automatically by Fife Council to those who have claimed Free School Meals & Clothing Grant.

* Apply for Free School Meals before the 21st December to qualify for the final payment.

Not entitled

Entitled

Final payment of £260 for each child will be made in Dec 2022.

A later payment can only be made if you apply and qualify for Free School Meals before the 21st December 2022.

Entitled

Final payment of £260  for each child will be made in Dec 2022

A later payment can only be made if you apply and qualify for Free School Meals before the 21st December 2022.

Payment in lieu of Free School Meals

Paid automatically by Fife Council during the school holidays to those who apply and qualify for Free School Meals & Clothing Grant.

Not entitled

Entitled

A payment of £24.00 (£2.40 per day), per child for the Christmas holidays

Entitled

A payment of £24.00 (£2.40 per day), per child for the Christmas holidays

School Clothing Grant only
(no Free School Meals)

Apply to Fife Council if in receipt of:

  • Long Term Incapacity Benefit
  • Widows  Allowance -  if not in full time employment
  • Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit with annual income below £17,005

Not entitled

Entitled

Application must be made for all children

Those in P1-P5 will also receive Free School Meals- universal entitlement.

Clothing grant for each child:

  • £170 for those of Primary school age
  • £200 for those of Secondary School age.

Entitled

£200 School Clothing Grant for each secondary school aged young person.

Café Inc

Open to all families. Operates across Fife offering free meals & activities during the school holidays

EntitledEntitledEntitled

Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

Young people aged 16- 19 is to apply to Fife Council each year they are:

+

The household income is at or below:

  • £24,421 if   only 1 dependent child/young person lives in the household.
  • £26,884 if   more than one child or young person lives in the household.

Not entitled

Not entitled

Entitled

Apply now if you were born between the 1st March 2003- 28th February 2007.

Payments will begin in January 2023 for those who were born between the 1st October 2006- 28th February 2007.

£30 per week, paid directly to the young person on a fortnightly basis, in arrears.

Best Start Grants & Best Start Foods

Each grant has different qualifying ages.

If you are claiming the Scottish Child Payment, you will automatically receive, at the appropriate time:

  • Best   Start Grant Early Learning Payment
  • Best   Start Grant School Age Payment

There are no automatic payments for:

  • Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
  • Best Start Foods.

You still need to apply for these payments via Social Security Scotland.

Entitled

Not entitled

Not entitled

How to apply

Scottish Child Payment

How to apply - mygov.scot or call free on 0800 182 2222.

Social Security Scotland are also offering advocacy support for those who have a disability via VoiceAbility | Advocacy and involvement or call 0300 303 1660.

Free School Meals and Clothing Grants

Apply online for free school meals or clothing grants or call the Community Support Line on 0800 952 0330

Visit a Fife Council Local Service Centre where advisors will be happy to help with applications for Fife Council or Social Security Scotland.

An award of free school meals will trigger automatic payments of the Scottish Child Bridging Payment 4 times per year (final payment can be made if you apply before 21st Dec 2022) and payment in lieu of free school meals during school holidays.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Young People can apply online Education Maintenance Allowance | Fife Council or speak to school or college staff for help.

Is the cost of living crisis affecting you?

Make sure you’re getting the help you're entitled to.

Visit our site