Clothing grants for children at school

What clothing grants are, who can them, how to apply and when you get them.

What clothing grants are

A clothing grant is money given to you so that you can buy school uniforms for your child. Depending on when you apply in the school year, you can get a payment in the summer for the start of the school year and another payment in the winter.

Who can get it

Your child can get a clothing grant if they go to a Renfrewshire school, and you get:

Housing Benefit
or Council Tax Reduction.

Your child can get a clothing grant and free meals in school and meal payments during the holidays, if they go to a Renfrewshire school and you get:

Universal Credit (where your monthly earned income is not more than £796)
Income Support
income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
income-based Employment and Support Allowance
support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Child Tax Credit, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £19,995
both Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and have an income of up to £9,552.

If you're applying for a child who has not previously attended a Renfrewshire Council nursery or school, we'll be unable to process an application until their enrolment has been completed. This is usually during the early part of August.

If you live in Renfrewshire and your child goes to a special school or special unit that is not within Renfrewshire, and if you meet the eligibility criteria, you'll get the grant.

Who cannot get it

Children at nursery are not entitled to a clothing grant.

If you do not meet the benefits criteria listed, you cannot get a clothing grant. Find out where to get money and benefits advice.

Before you start

You can apply for a clothing grant free school meals at the same time.

You'll need to tell us:

your National Insurance number 
evidence of your household income - you can upload the proof to this form.
evidence of Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction - you can upload proof, or ask us to verify your Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction entitlement using our systems.
details of the child or children you're applying for - full name, gender, date of birth and the school they'll attend during the school year that you're applying for
your bank or building society account details - clothing grants are paid directly into a bank account.

How to apply

Apply online

Before you start, you'll need to register for MyAccount through mygov.scot. If you've already registered, you do not need to do it again.  

Apply for free school meals and clothing grants.

Applications for clothing grants open on 1 June 2024 and close on 31 March 2025.

If you're also eligible for the free school meal payments, we'll tell you after you apply. You can apply for both on the same form. Find out about:

Other ways to apply

You can only apply online.

If you need help to apply:

contact your school
or phone us on 0300 300 0300, Monday to Thursday from 8:45am to 4:45pm and Friday from 8:45am to 3:55pm.

After you've applied

It usually takes 3 weeks to process a successful application.

For children who are 16 and could leave school after June - after your application, we may need to verify they have returned to school after the school year begins.

How we make a decision

We'll check the evidence you provide. If it meets the eligibility criteria, you'll get the clothing grant payments.

How we pay it

For the school year of 2024 to 2025, the amount of clothing grant for each eligible pupil is:

£120 for primary aged children, and a winter payment of £50
£150 for secondary aged children, and a winter payment of £50.

Make sure to apply as early as you can so that you also get a payment in October for the winter. We do not back date claims.

Related services

Where to get benefits and money advice.

Scottish Child Payment, a four-weekly payment to help with costs for children under 16.

School Age Payment, a one off payment for when children normally start school.

Give us feedback about this page

Did you find what you are looking for?

Renfrewshire Council