Best Start Foods (Scotland)
Best Start Foods is a Scottish scheme to help with the cost of healthy food and milk for pregnant women and children under 3. In England and Wales you may be entitled to help through the Healthy Start scheme instead.
If you’re entitled to Best Start Foods you will receive a prepaid card that you can use in most shops and supermarkets to buy milk (including baby formula) and healthy foods such as fruit, vegetables, eggs and pulses. Your prepaid card is topped up every 4 weeks. You will get:
- £21.60 every 4 weeks during pregnancy
- £43.20 every 4 weeks for each child under one year old
- £21.60 every 4 weeks for each child aged between one and three years old
If your baby is born early you will get the higher payment from birth until one year after the due date.
To qualify for Best Start Foods you must live in Scotland and be in receipt of Universal Credit (or one of the old legacy benefits it replaces).
If you are under 18 you do not need to be on Universal Credit (or a legacy benefit) to qualify for Best Start Foods.
If you are aged 18 or 19, you will qualify for Best Start Foods if you are getting Universal Credit (or a legacy benefit) in your own right or if a parent or carer gets one of the following benefits for you:
- Child Benefit
- The child responsibility element of Universal Credit
- The child addition part of Pension Credit
If you have an immigration status that does not allow you to claim public funds and you have a low income, you may qualify for Best Start Foods. There is more information on Social Security Scotland’s website.
You can make an application for Best Start Foods online or by phoning Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm)
This advice applies in England, Wales and Scotland. If you live in another part of the UK, the law may differ. Please call our helpline for more details. If you are in Northern Ireland you can visit the Labour Relations Agency or call their helpline Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300.
If you have further questions and would like to contact our advice team please use our advice contact form below or call us.
This probably isn’t what you came here for.
You’re looking for answers – maybe even a lifeline. And we’re proud to be able to offer free legal advice to parents and carers who need it.
But keeping this service free, expert, and up to date takes time, people, and funding.
- We’re a small charity, not a big law firm. That means we can focus on helping parents and carers, not chasing fees.
- It also means we’re free to speak up, using what we learn to campaign for fairer workplace rights for all families.
- And it means we can keep our advice free and accessible for those who need it most, not hidden behind a paywall or limited to those who can afford a solicitor.
Most people who visit our site won’t donate – and that’s okay. But if you’re in a position to chip in, we’d be hugely grateful. Your support helps us keep showing up for families when it matters most.
Whatever you can give – thank you.
You’re helping build a fairer future for working families.
We would love your feedback
Would your employer benefit from support from Working Families?
Would your employer benefit from some support & guidance from Working Families? If you would like to make your employer aware of how Working Families can help them, we have an introduction letter template available that you can give to the relevant person in your organisation.
The information on the law contained on this site is provided free of charge and does not, and is not intended to, amount to legal advice to any person on a specific case or matter. If you are not a solicitor, you are advised to obtain specific legal advice about your case or matter and not to rely solely on this information. Law and guidance is changing regularly in this area.
We cannot provide advice on employment rights in Northern Ireland as the law is different. You can visit the Labour Relations Agency or call their helpline Workplace Information Service on 03300 555 300.