What is Early Learning Payment in 2022? How can I apply for this payment? You may live in Scotland, and wonder if you can get this benefit. This payment is part of 3 payments that you can receive with the Best Start Grant. Then, you may receive a one-off payment for a child between 2 and 3 and a half years old. Your Benefits will tell you everything you need to know about Early Learning Payment in 2022.

How to apply for Early Learning Payment

You may apply for Early Learning Payment by applying for Best Start Grant. Mainly, you may do your application online, or by phone.

Applying online can be done on the mygov.scot website. Then, your application should take between 10 and 20 minutes. By phone, you may apply on 0800 182 2222, Monday to Friday between 8am to 6pm.

How much is Early Learning Payment

You could get £267.65 as a one-off payment. This is for a child between 2 and 3 years and a half. Additionally, you will need to apply within the appropriate window of time.

What is Early Learning Payment?

Early Learning Payment is a benefit for those living in Scotland. In fact, it is paid by Social Security Scotland. Furthermore, it is one of 3 types of payments in the Best Start Grant. The two other types of payments are Pregnancy and Baby Payment and School Age Payment.

Furthermore, you need to receive a qualifying benefit in order to apply. However, if you are young, you may not need to earn a benefit to be eligible. Additionally, note that this is a payment that you may only receive one time. However, you could get it many times if you are caring for someone else’s child. 

Early Learning Payment eligibility

Some conditions need to be true in order for you to be eligible for Early Learning Payment. In fact, you must live in Scotland. Furthermore, you must apply within the time limit, and your child needs to be between 2 and 3 and a half years old.

Additionally, either your partner or yourself have to bear responsibility for the child for which you are applying, on the date on which you send your claim. Indeed, you may receive one of the following benefits for the child. Then, this shows that you bear responsibility for them:

• The child element of Universal Credit;
• Child Tax Credit;
• The Child addition part of Pension Credit;
• Child Benefit.

You may claim Early Learning Payment if you adopted a child. Indeed, you may not have to give evidence of the adoption. This is the case if you get the child element of Universal Credit, the Pension Credit child addition, Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit for the child for which you are applying.

If you do not get these benefits, you will need to provide Social Security Scotland with a copy of the legal order which demonstrates your responsibility for the child. 

Provide Social Security Scotland with a copy of your document, not the original. In fact, this is because it may take a long time before Social Security Scotland is able to send back your documents.

If you need a pre-paid envelope in which you can send your document, you may call Social Security Scotland to request one. Indeed, this would likely be sent with your application form.

What if I am kinship carer?

A kinship carer is someone caring for a child when a close friend or family member was unable to. In fact, you may be caring for a nephew or grandchild. Then, you may not need to send proof if you receive the child element of Universal Credit, the Pension Credit child addition, Child Tax Credit or Child Benefit for said child.

What if multiple people apply for the same child?

Only one person may get Early Learning Payment for any 1 child. If multiple people apply for the same child, Social Security Scotland will look at the eligibility of those who applied. This implicates the benefits that the person receives for said child, as well as the evidence sent to show who bears responsibility for said child. 

What if I live abroad?

Typically, those who live in Scotland will be able to receive Early Learning Payment. More specifically, you must also meet the other eligibility requirements necessary to qualify.

However, you may be a UK citizen living abroad, or not a UK citizen. If this is the case, you could be unable to receive a qualifying benefit. Then, you would likely be unable to receive Early Learning Payment.

You have more chances of being eligible for Early Learning Payment if you are a UK citizen and live in Scotland. 

Early Learning Payment qualifying benefits

Either your partner or yourself need to receive a qualifying benefit for the child you’re applying in order to be eligible for Early Learning Payment. In fact, qualifying benefits are the following:

• Universal Credit;
• Working Tax Credit;
• Housing Benefit;
• Child Tax Credit;
• Pension Credit;
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA);
• Income Support;
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

By the date on which you apply for Early Learning Payment, you will usually have to get at least one of these benefits. However, not everyone needs to receive a qualifying benefit. This is if you are younger than 18 years old. Additionally, it is also the case if you are 18 or 19 and in education or training.

You may have applied for a benefit but not yet received a decision on whether or not you are eligible. You should apply for Early Learning Payment anyways. Indeed, if you are applying for a benefit other than Universal Credit, your claim will be kept for 10 days. If you receive your decision later than 10 days later, you will need to reapply.

If you are applying for Universal Credit, your claim for Early Learning Payment will be kept until your Universal Credit assessment period ends. Then, you will be able to receive a decision on your Early Learning Payment claim. 

When to apply for Early Learning Payment

There is a certain timeframe during which you can apply for Early Learning Payment. In fact, you can apply when your child is between 2 and 3 and a half years old. This is referred to as your ‘application window ‘.

You may even be able to apply after your child turned 3 years old. More specifically, this is the case if you were waiting for a decision on a qualifying benefit. Then, you need to have received a qualifying benefit when your child was between 2 and 3 and a half years old, for at least a single day. Then, send your application to Social Security Scotland:

• No more than 3 months after being notified of your backdated claim, or no more than 3 months after being told of the decision by your local council or Department of Work and Pensions, and;
• No later than 20 days following your application window’s last day, or in other words, no later than 20 days after your child is 3 years and a half.

Can I get multiple payments?

Furthermore, if someone else has already received Early Learning Payment for a child, you will typically not be able to get the payment too. However, there are some situations where a second payment can be paid. Additionally, the child needs to be between 2 and 3 and a half years old.