After you apply

What happens next

If you asked for an email or a text message, you'll get one when Social Security Scotland get your form.

How to send Social Security Scotland your documents

You may have been told you need to send a copy of a certificate, a legal order or a letter from your local authority when you applied.

If so, you'll need to send this before Social Security Scotland can finish checking your form. You can do this online or send your documents in the post.

For online upload

You can upload your documents online.

For post, send to:

You should check you've paid the right amount of postage before you send a copy of your documents.

Write the following information on your photocopied documents:

• your full name
• your date of birth
• your National Insurance number, if you know it
• the words 'Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods', even if you're applying for Scottish Child Payment at the same time, so Social Security Scotland know what you're applying for

If you do not include these things, your payment could be delayed.

If you want to send your documents by post, you should only send photocopies. It can take Social Security Scotland a while to return any original documents.

If you'd like a pre-paid envelope to send documents, call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 and they'll send you one.

Finding out if you'll get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods

You'll get letters to let you know whether you're going to be paid Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods.

You'll get one letter about Best Start Grant and another letter about Best Start Foods. Social Security Scotland aim to get these letters to you within 30 days of applying.

Sometimes there may be a delay in letting you know whether you'll get the payment if there have been high numbers of applications. Social Security Scotland will let you know that there's going to be a delay if this happens. You do not need to contact them.

When you'll get a Best Start Grant payment or Best Start Foods card

If you're going to get a Best Start Grant payment, it will be within 7 days of getting your Best Start Grant letter.

If you're going to get Best Start Foods, you'll get your Best Start Foods card within 6 weeks of getting your Best Start Foods letter.

Get help

If you need further help, call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.