Benefits for Students in Scotland Handbook 2024/25Part 1: Benefits and tax creditsChapter 9: Maternity, paternity and other parental benefits 6. Other benefits and tax credits
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6. Other benefits and tax credits
There are a number of other benefits you may get when you have a baby, such as:
    •child benefit when the baby is born;
    •universal credit, if you do not already get child tax credit (CTC) for other children you have, or working tax credit (WTC) because you are working and on a low income;
    •CTC in some cases (if you already get WTC), or an increase in your existing CTC award, if you already get CTC. Tell HMRC within three months of the birth;
    •a Best Start grant, if you are under 18 or get a qualifying benefit (see here);
    •Best Start foods, if you are under 18 or get a qualifying benefit (see here);
    •Scottish child payment, if you get a qualifying benefit (see here).
Maternity allowance is taken into account when calculating whether the benefit cap applies (see here and here). Statutory maternity, adoption, paternity, shared parental pay and parental bereavement pay are not taken into account.