This is a one-off payment of £100 to help families of children entitled to free school meals (excluding those entitled to universal provision of P1-3 meals). The payment is funded by the Scottish Government and can be used by families for any purpose as they see fit.
The Family Pandemic Payment is being provided to any child or young person who attends a South Lanarkshire Council school and whose parent/carer(s) are in receipt of a qualifying benefit and are therefore eligible for a means tested free school meal.
Although all P1-3 pupils receive a free school meal, the payments will only be made if you get any of the following benefits and are therefore eligible for free school meals:
- Income Support
- Universal Credit (and your earned income is less than £610 as assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions in the assessment period immediately preceding the application for free school meals)
- Job Seekers Allowance (income based)
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related)
- Child Tax Credit only (with a gross annual income less than £16,105 as assessed by HM Revenues and Customs on your Tax Credit Award Notice TC602)
- Working Tax Credit and Child Tax credit (with a gross annual income less than £7,330) as assessed by HM Revenues and Customs on your Tax Credit Award Notice (TC602)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
You do not have to apply. If you are eligible the payment will automatically be paid by Friday 18 June 2021.
The payment will be made direct into your bank account using bank details we already have from making the footwear and clothing grant payments, along with the Covid-19 support payments earlier this year.
In exceptional circumstances we may pay by cheque.
Q. Who is eligible to receive a Family Pandemic Payment?
A. Any child or young person eligible for free school meals through means testing, i.e. whose parent/carer(s) are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, who attends primary or secondary school (including ASN schools). For more information on whether you are eligible, see the Free School Meals page.
Q. Are all children in P1-P3 eligible for the Family Pandemic Payment?
A. No. Although, all P1 to P3 pupils automatically get a free school meal you will only get this payment if you get any of the benefits listed above. For more information on whether you are eligible, see the Free School Meals page
Q. Does the Family Pandemic Payment include pre-school aged children?
A. No, pre-school aged children are not eligible for this payment. The
Scottish Child Payment is available for children under the age of 6 – to find
out more about this and to apply please visit Scottish Child Payment - mygov.scot.
Q. Do I need to apply for the Family Pandemic Payment?
A. No. The payment will be made direct into your bank account using bank details we already have from making the footwear and clothing grant payments, along with the Covid-19 support payments earlier this year. In exceptional circumstances we may pay by cheque.
Q. When will I receive the payment?
A. We aim to have payments issued by Friday 18 June 2021.
Q. Will I get a payment for each of my children?
A. Yes, you will receive a payment for each eligible child or young person.
Q. I heard that there will be two Family Pandemic Payments of £100 – when will I receive the other?
A. The Scottish Government have committed to providing two separate one-off payments of £100 for each school aged child entitled to means tested free school meals. The first payment is detailed above. The second payment will be made around the start of the Winter school holidays. Further details on the second payment will be provided nearer that time.
Q. Will this payment affect my claim for Universal Credit?
A. If you receive Universal Credit, then this payment will be counted as Capital. This will not normally affect the amount you receive unless you have savings or other Capital totalling over £6,000. If you are concerned that this payment could impact your Universal Credit award, you should report the payment in your journal by signing in to your Universal Credit account or by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
This payment will be disregarded in full for other benefits and for income tax
purposes.
Q. Where can I find further information on the Family Pandemic Payment?
A. For further information on the Family Pandemic Payment, please visit the Scottish Government website.
Q. I believe I should have received this payment but haven’t. Who should I contact?
A. You should use our enquiry form.
If you have any other questions about the Family Pandemic Payment use our enquiry form.