Monklands families are being encouraged to submit their applications for the £250 school-age payment.
The one-off funding is available to families with a child born between March 1 2015 and February 29 2016; while those who deferred their child’s school entry from last year to this August also need to apply to ensure they receive the payment.
Applications for the payment – which can be used for anything from a warm coat to books and toys – close on February 28.
It is one of the three parts of the Best Start Grant package, for families who get tax credits or certain benefits including universal credit, income support and housing benefit.
Alex Neil and Fulton MacGregor, Monklands’ constituency MSPs, are both urging eligible local residents to ensure they apply for the payment.
They said: “We are approaching the deadline for the school age payment and want to encourage eligible families who have not yet applied to get their applications in before the end of the month.
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“Parents who weren’t eligible when the payment opened in June but whose circumstances have changed may now be eligible for this money, which can be used for things like clothes, home-schooling materials, or anything else you need for your child.
“Eligible people can also apply for the new Scottish child payment at the same time, which is an extra £40 every four weeks for children under six.”
Social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Access to financial support is a right, and we are committed to ensuring families in Scotland receive all the money they are entitled to.”
Families can visit mygov.scot/beststart for information and to apply.
