Parents with children under 16 in Scotland who receive Child Disability Payment are set to receive an extra benefit payment on Monday, June 15, 2026. This date has been officially confirmed as a national bank holiday to mark Scotland's participation in the men's football World Cup for the first time since 1998. The holiday was proposed by the First Minister and approved by King Charles III.
Benefit Payment Schedule Unchanged
According to the Social Security Scotland website, no schedule changes are planned for benefit payments despite the bank holiday. Benefits such as Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), and Pension Credit will be paid out as normal. The Scottish Child Payment, which helps with the costs of supporting a family, is a weekly payment of £28.20 for every child under 16. Payments are made every four weeks if the application is successful.
Eligibility for Scottish Child Payment
You can apply for Scottish Child Payment whether you are in work or not, provided you or your partner receive one or more of the following benefits: Universal Credit or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA). Alternatively, if you alone are named on Pension Credit, Income Support, or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you are also eligible.
Only one person can receive Scottish Child Payment for a child. If two people apply for the same child, Social Security Scotland has a process to determine who gets the payment, known as a double claim. The decision depends on the benefits each person receives. If your partner is named on any of the three benefits mentioned above and you are not, your partner should apply.
Child benefit on its own is not an accepted benefit for Scottish Child Payment. You must receive one of the listed benefits. However, if you have applied for one of these benefits but are not yet receiving it, you can still apply for Scottish Child Payment.
Additional Information
You may also be eligible if you receive a benefit from a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. For more information, call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. If you have a sanction or deduction on your benefit claim, you can still apply, as this will not affect the decision on your application.
