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GrantScotland

Best Start Foods (Scotland)

Social Security Scotland

Description

Scotland's devolved replacement for Healthy Start — a payment card helping low-income pregnant women and families with children under 3 in Scotland buy healthy food, at more generous rates and with materially higher uptake than the rest of the UK.

Amount

£22.40 every 4 weeks during pregnancy; £44.80 every 4 weeks for children under 1; £22.40 every 4 weeks for children aged 1–3 (2026/27, confirmed directly against mygov.scot in this pass)

Deadline

Rolling / no fixed deadline

Eligibility summary

  • Available in: Scotland.
  • Open to individuals — not restricted to businesses.
  • Relevant income bands: earning under the Personal Allowance.
Notes
Part of the wider Best Start Grant/Best Start Foods package alongside one-off Best Start Grant payments (pregnancy & baby, early learning, school age). Reported 2023/24 uptake (84%) was materially higher than Healthy Start uptake in the rest of the UK — cited by the Scottish Government as evidence the devolved, simplified design works better.
Requirement
Pregnant (any point) or have a child under 3, resident in Scotland, and receiving a qualifying benefit or tax credit (or under 18 and pregnant, regardless of benefits).

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How to apply

Apply online via mygov.scot, by phone, or with a paper form; payments are loaded onto a payment card every 4 weeks once approved.

View official source

Last verified: 19 August 2026. See the footer disclaimer — this is general information, not financial or tax advice.