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Scottish Child Payment

How to apply

Last updated
14 Nov 2022

Apply online

You can apply online here if you want to: 

  • make a new application for Scottish Child Payment 
  • add a child or children to your existing Scottish Child Payment claim 

To add a child or children you’ll need: 

  • your name, date of birth, address and National Insurance number 
  • the names and dates of birth of the children you want to add 

To make a new application, you'll need the above information and: 

  • your partner's details, if you have a partner, including their National Insurance number 
  • your bank details, if you have an account 

Most people take around 10 to 20 minutes to complete the form, but it's okay if it takes you longer. You will not be able to save the form and come back to it later, because it has to be completed all at once.

If you do not have a bank account, are managing someone else's affairs, or do not have a permanent address you can: 

  • apply by post 
  • call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 

Apply now

Apply by phone

Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to make your application over the phone. The opening times are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

If you're a British Sign Language user, you can use the Contact Scotland service to contact Social Security Scotland.

Apply by post

You can apply by filling in a paper form.

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

If you need any help

If you're not able to fill in an online or paper form, you can get help to complete it by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. The opening times are 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

If you need a large print paper form

You can get a large print paper form by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.

If you do not want to apply in English

Call 0800 182 2222 free to apply over the phone in any of over 100 languages

Languages you can request include Urdu, Polish, Scottish Gaelic and many of the other languages used in Scotland. You cannot apply online in any language other than English.

Further help and advice

You can get face-to-face advice about Scottish Child Payment from Citizens Advice Scotland.

You can also go to GOV.UK if you need help to apply for any other UK benefits or payments, such as:

  • Universal Credit
  • Child Benefit
  • any type of tax credits

You and your data

If you want to know more about how Social Security Scotland use your data, read the privacy notice.

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