Best Start Grants and Early Learning Payments: FOI release

Information requested

1. Have income thresholds been removed from Best Start Foods in 2023-24?
2. Has the Best Start Foods programme moved to a cash payment?
3. Is the Best Start Grant, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment automatically eligible for families in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment?
4. Has a Parental Transition Fund been developed in Scotland this year and how much funding does this fund have?

Response

1. Have income thresholds been removed from Best Start Foods in 2023-24?

As set out in the 2022-23 annual progress report on child poverty, we will remove all income thresholds from Best Start Foods from February 2024. This will bring eligibility in line with both Best Start Grant and Scottish Child Payment, supporting an additional 20,000 people.

2. Has the Best Start Foods programme moved to a cash payment?

As also set out in the report, we remain committed to moving to a cash payment for Best Start Foods. We are confident we will be able to make this change in the future and we are currently considering when this can be done. Best Start Foods continues to remove the stigma associated with the previous Healthy Start Voucher scheme by using a pre-loaded payment card that works like a regular bank card.

3. Is the Best Start Grant, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment automatically eligible for families in receipt of the Scottish Child Payment?

The report also states that on 28 November 2022 we began to award Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment automatically to eligible families in receipt of Scottish Child Payment, without the need to apply. High level statistics published in June 2023 show that 14,910 payments were made to families by the end of March 2023 without the need for them to apply.

4. Has a Parental Transition Fund been developed in Scotland this year and how much funding does this fund have?

An update in relation to the Parental Transition Fund was published as part of the 2022-23 annual progress report on child poverty. This confirms that the fund is in the early stages of development and sets out key steps taken across 2022-23 to develop the fund. As noted, the Scottish Government will continue to work with partners to deliver on the ambition of the Parental Transition Fund and strengthen the support available to parents.

The Scottish Budget 2023-24 made up to £5 million available for the Parental Transition Fund this year. Funding in future years is subject to consideration through the relevant Scottish Budget.

About FOI

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