Low income families in West Dunbartonshire can now apply for a new benefit.

The £250 early learning payment is for children aged between two to three and a half and can be used for anything from children’s clothes and shoes to toys, books or days out.

This payment is part of the Scottish Government’s new best start grant package.

The financial support includes the pregnancy and baby payment, which has been open for applications since December, and the best start grant school age payment which will open in June.

When the school age payments begin in June, the best start grant package, along with carer’s allowance supplement, will bring the total number of Scottish Government benefits being administered by Social Security Scotland to four.

Best start grants are for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including universal credit, income support, housing benefit – and tax credits to help at key stages in a child’s life.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Since December, low income families have been eligible for a payment of £600 on the birth of a first child, and £300 on the birth of any siblings.

“In just the first two months of the Best Start Grant, the Scottish Government got more money into people’s pockets than the DWP had managed under the old system in an entire year.

“Now, we will go further.

“I can announce that low income families will get a further £250 when their child starts nursery. And from June they will get the same again when their child starts school.”