Shoppers at a Dundee supermarket have become the first in Scotland to benefit from a project highlighting payments they can receive towards their groceries.
Social Security Scotland has launched a partnership with Asda to promote Best Start Foods.
It is one of 12 benefits from the Scottish Government agency and aims to tackle the impacts of child poverty.
Certain families can receive up to £36 every month on a pre-paid card to buy healthy goods like eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables and pulses.
The initiative launched at the Asda Milton of Craigie supermarket on Monday – the first in a series of in-store events.
Who is eligible for Best Start Foods?
The following people are eligible for Best Start Foods:
- Pregnant women who receive certain benefits under a certain amount
- Families with children under three years old who receive certain benefits under a certain amount
- Pregnant women who are under 18 during pregnancy and up until their child turns one, without the need to be in receipt of benefits.
How much can you get?
Best Start Foods is delivered via a prepaid card and provides:
- £18 every four weeks throughout pregnancy
- £36 every four weeks from birth until the child turns one
- £18 every four weeks until the child turns three.
Best Start Foods is part of a package of five family payments, which will be worth up to £10,000 to low-income families by the time their first child turns six, and £9,700 for second and subsequent children.
David Wallace, Social Security Scotland chief executive, said: “The partnership with Asda is a great way for us to reach families while they shop and raise awareness about support they could be entitled to.
“Best Start Foods is there to provide help with the cost of healthy food in a family’s weekly shopping and we want to make it as easy as possible for people to access this financial support.”
Kevin McBride, Asda’s vice-president in Scotland, said: “We know times are tough for many families at the moment, and we want to do our bit to help make sure people are getting the support available to them.
“Asda is proud to partner with Social Security Scotland on this campaign, making it easy for our customers to access support as they do their shopping.”
Conversation