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. 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 You do not need to contact us or make a new application to receive these payments.
Holiday Payment Dates 2025/26
| Holiday | Holiday Dates | Amount | Payment Date |
| October | Monday 13th October to Tuesday 28th October | £30.00 | Friday 10th October 2025 |
| Christmas | Monday 22nd December to Friday 2nd January | £25.00 | Friday 12th December 2025 |
| February | Friday 13th February to Tuesday17th February | £7.50 | Friday 20th February 2026 |
| Spring | Monday 30th March to Friday 10th April | £25.00 | Friday 27th March 2026 |
| Summer | Monday 6th July to Friday 24th July | £37.50 | Friday 3rd July 2026 |
| Summer | Monday 27th July to Tuesday 19th August | £42.50 | Friday 24th July 2026 |
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 £27.15 that you can get for every child you look after who is under 16 years of age. 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.
To be eligible for the Scottish Child Payment, you must be responsbile for a child under the age of 16 and your or your partner must be in receipt of at least one of the following:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-based)
- Employment Support Allowance (income related)
To find out more and to apply, please visit: Scottish Child Payment.
Scottish Chlid Payment does not affect any other UK or Scottish Government benefits that you, or any person in your household currently receive.