Higher rate of Pregnancy and Baby Payment available to survivors of domestic violence

Parents forced to leave their home because of domestic abuse have been encouraged to access extra financial support available through Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment.

Violence against women and girls can have devastating impact on an individual’s health, wellbeing and financial stability. It can also harm society as a whole.

During 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, a United Nations campaign to eliminate violence against women and girls around the world, we are promoting the availability of a higher rate of the payment.

Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment is a £754.65 payment for a first child and usually £377.35 for other children.

In some circumstances people are entitled to the higher rate of £754.65 for subsequent births. This could include parents who have been forced to leave due to domestic violence and had to leave some of their older children’s possessions behind.

Other parents entitled to the higher rate include people who have been granted refugee status, humanitarian protection or leave under the Afghanistan or Ukraine resettlement schemes and whose other children were born before they arrived in the UK.

Kinship carers expecting children of their own may also be eligible.

Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment helps with the costs of having a baby and can be applied for from the end of the 24th week of pregnancy until a baby turns six months old.

If the baby is born before 24 weeks, applications can be made from that date. The payment also provides support for people who have had a stillbirth.

People who have taken over looking after a child, including those who have adopted, can apply up to the day before the child's first birthday.

People can find out more information, apply online, over the phone or book an appointment to apply in-person, by visiting people mygov.scot/beststart or call us free on 0800 182 2222.