Free School Meal Holiday Support & Scottish Child Payment
Free School Meal Holiday Payments
The Scottish Government have agreed funding to allow local authorities to provide Free School Meal provision during all school holidays in 2023/24. Free School Meal Payments of £2.50 per day, will be paid for all children and young people who are eligible for free school meals on the basis of low income, in primary and secondary.
Shetland Islands Council have secured funding to extend these payments to families with children in primary and secondary who are in receipt of a Clothing Grant and also to all early years children who are in receipt of Free School Meals or a Clothing Grant.
Free School Meal Holiday Payments will be payable during the Easter, Summer, October, Christmas Holidays and the February long weekend. You will automatically receive these payments directly into your bank account if you have a current Free School Meal award for the 2023/24. You do not need to contact us or make a new application to receive these payments.
Holiday Payment Dates
| Holiday | Holiday Dates | Amount | Payment Date |
| Summer | Monday 1st to Friday12th July | £25.00 | Friday 28th June 2024 |
| Summer | Monday 15th to Friday 26th July | £25.00 | Friday 12th July 2024 |
| Summer | Monday 29th July to Tuesday 13th August | £30.00 | Friday 26th July 2024 |
| October | Monday 14th to Tuesday 29th October | £30.00 | Friday 11th October 2024 |
| Christmas | Monday 23rd December to Monday 6th January | £27.50 | Friday 20th December 2024 |
| February | Friday 21st to Monday 24th February | £5.00 | Friday 21st February 2025 |
| Easter | Monday 7th to Monday 21st April | £27.50 | Friday 4th April 2025 |
Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Child Payment is a payment from Social Security Scotland made to low-income families to help towards the costs of supporting your family. It's a weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for every child you look after who is under 16 years of age. From Monday 14th November 2022, the Scottish Child Payment is being delivered for children under the age of 16. If your application is successful, you will receive your payment every 4 weeks.
Scottish Child Payment is one of the 5 family payments you may be able to get form Social Security Scotland, along with Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
You may be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, if you have a child living in your care under the age of 16 and your or your partner are in receipt of at least one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Social Security Scotland also accept claims if you alone are named on one of these benefits:
- Pension Credit
- Income Support
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
To find out more and to apply, please visit: Scottish Children Payment - mygov.scot.
Scottish Chlid Payment does not affect any other UK or Scottish Government benefits that you, or any person in your household currently receive.