Families in Scotland can now apply for a £250 grant to help support them with childcare costs and living expenses.
Applications for the School Age Payment are now open, and anyone that falls into the 'low income' threshold can apply.
It's paid when your child is old enough to start school and is open to anyone in receipt of universal credit, child tax credits or working tax credits in Scotland.
Parent aged under 18 can apply regardless of whether you receive any state support.
The payment is part of the Best Start grant - one of three one-off cash payments paid at different stages of a child's development. It also includes the Early Learning Payment and Pregnancy and Baby Payment.
If you apply for all three, you could receive up to £1,100 for your first child from their birth to when they start school.
To get the School Age Payment, parents and guardians should apply when their child reaches school age.
If your child was born between 1 March 2014 and 28 February 2015, you'll need to apply by 29 February 2020.
For children born between 1 March 2015 and 29 February 2016, you'll be able to apply between 1 June 2020 and 28 February 2021.
For children born later than February 2016, you'll be able to apply after May 2021.
Unfortunately, you cannot apply for the school age payment for a child born before 1 March 2014.
To qualify, you have to be in receipt of one of the following: child tax credit, housing benefit, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, pension credits, universal credit or working tax credits.
If you're a parent aged 18 or 19 who doesn't receive any benefits, you can apply if your parent or carer receives universal credit child payments, child tax credit, or the child addition part of pension credit .
Applications can be made online or by phone on 0800 182 2222 between the hours of 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
To apply, you'll need your name, date of birth and address, child's details, your bank details, national insurance number and pregnancy and baby payment.
Speaking on the scheme, social security secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "Covering the costs of a child starting school puts pressure on family finances, and we have created this new payment to help ease that burden, putting more money into the pockets of families at a time when they need it most."
As well as the school age grant, thousands of parents can also apply for a one-off payment to cover their child's school uniform fees.
In September last year, all councils in Scotland vowed to deliver a new £100 clothing grant.
It means residents in all 32 regions will be able to apply for a £100 payment to cover their child's back-to-school costs.
An estimated 120,000 families are eligible for the grant, and you can read all about it here .
Deputy first minister John Swinney said: “We know school uniforms can be a considerable cost for families and I am delighted to see that our partnership working with local authorities has resulted in all councils across Scotland paying the national minimum school clothing grant.
“This will help to relieve pressure for around 120,000 families, reduce costs of living and allow all children to attend school feeling comfortable, confident and ready to learn.”
