Expecting a baby is a thrilling experience filled with anticipation for welcoming the newest member to your family.

However, it’s common knowledge that having a baby introduces additional expenses. These range from the essentials like maternity leave.

For prospective parents, it’s predicted that the baby’s first year, inclusive of one-off acquisitions could cost close to £6,000.

A soon-to-be-mum based in Glasgow was perplexed about availability of any financial aid in her scenario.

She stated:

"I just came to know that I’m pregnant and I’m concerned about expenses. I am unsure about the financial assistance I can avail during my pregnancy or after my baby’s birth?"

Advice Direct Scotland responded:

"Now is the ideal time to explore the available financial assistance if you are expecting a baby. There are several types of financial support designed to aid expectant mothers, their newborns, and their children.”

The Best Start Grant provides a triplet of benefits to help parents and carers with low earnings in managing childcare expenses. These are grants, hence you don’t have to repay them, and the funds can be used based on your discretion.

The Pregnancy and Baby Payment is a one-off grant that offers £707.25 for your first child and £353.65 for subsequent ones. This can be applied for any time between your 24th week of pregnancy until your baby reaches six months old.

The Early Learning Payment is a £294.70 single payment per child, intended to assist with costs related to early learning. The eligibility for this grant stretches to children around two and three-and-a-half years old.

The School Age Payment, another £294.70 single payment, is a valuable resource as your child is about to start school. This grant can cover school-associated expenses. The Best Start Grant can be applied for online or via Social Security Scotland.

If you’re pregnant or have a child below three years, the Best Start Foods scheme offers additional support targeted at facilitating the purchase of nutritious food for you and your child. This scheme can be accessed while applying for the Best Start Grant through Social Security Scotland.

The Scottish Child Payment allows for one parent per household to apply for each child under 16 in their care. If approved, it’s a weekly payment of £25 paid out every four weeks.

If you qualify for certain benefits like Universal Credit or Income Support, regardless of your employment status, you can apply for any of the aforementioned payments. Those under 18 do not need to be on benefits to apply.

Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is granted for a maximum of 39 weeks. Eligibility requires an average weekly earning of at least £123 and an uninterrupted work record with the same employer for a minimum of 26 weeks leading into the 15th week before the due date.

After producing proof of your pregnancy to your employer, they must confirm the amount of SMP, start and end dates within 28 days.

Child Benefit can be availed if you’re looking after a child under 16 (or under 20 if they are still studying full-time). You can claim for an unlimited number of children, but the weekly rate decreases from the second child onwards.

Applications for the above payments can be made online at www.mygov.scot. For additional support or more information, welfare advisors at advice.scot are available to provide additional guidance regarding benefits and available payments.”

Free, impartial advice on a variety of topics can be obtained from advice.scot by calling 0808 800 9060 or by visiting www.advice.scot. This advice is accessible to everyone in Glasgow and throughout Scotland, without any cost, irrespective of their personal circumstances.