Explainers
Best Start Grant
Best Start Grant (BSG) is a series of one-off payments to help low income households with the costs of having a child. This includes a Pregnancy and Baby Payment, an Early Learning Payment and a School Age Payment. To qualify, families must have been awarded a qualifying payment, usually Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit.
BSG Pregnancy and Baby Payment replaces the UK Government’s Sure Start Maternity Grant.
| £ million | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | 2027-28 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pregnancy and Baby Payment | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Early Learning Payment | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| School Age Payment | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Total | 14 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 |