Best Start Grant Draft Regulations

OPFS submission to the Scottish Government’s consultation on the draft regulations for the Best Start Grant welcomed it as an encouraging step forward for Scotland. The increase in value of the grant and the introduction of one-off awards at key transitions in a child’s life will support them with the basics which some parents/carers may struggle to pay for. In our submission we said we have concerns that an applicant can be the partner of the person who is going to  have or has had a baby. We believe the payments should be treated like child benefit. If both parents live together, Child Benefit is usually paid to the mother. If both parents do not live together, it is usually paid to the parent with whom the child lives. This would avoid the potential of financial abuse.

Download OPFS submission