The Scottish Child Payment will increase to £20 per week from April 2022, it has been announced.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon revealed the uplift at the SNP conference in November, saying more than 100,000 youngsters under the age of six would benefit from the payments.
The Scottish Child Payment was first introduced in February 2021 at £10 per week in a bid to tackle child poverty.
Ms Sturgeon hailed the increase as the “boldest and most ambitious anti-poverty measure anywhere in the UK,” but said it would involve hard budget choices elsewhere.
Increased benefit to support struggling families
Figures show that almost 60% of all children in poverty in Scotland live in a family where a child is under the age of six. It is hoped that the uplift in the Scottish Child Payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland, will provide further additional fiancnial support for eligible families.
From 2023/24 it will represent an annual investment in tackling child poverty of around £360 million a year.
Speaking of the benefit increase, Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Government is determined to lift children out of poverty.
“Of the £2 billion a year that the Scottish Government invests to support people on low incomes, over £670 million is already targeted at children. Through the range of new payments delivered by Social Security Scotland, low income families receive, in the early years of each child’s life, £5,000 of additional financial support.
“At the heart of this is the Scottish Child Payment – the only payment of its kind anywhere in the UK, designed solely to lift children out of poverty and give them better lives. The £10 per week payment for eligible children under age six will be extended to all eligible children under 16 at the end of 2022; and we committed to doubling the payment to £20 per child per week within this Parliamentary term.
“I am proud that our budget will confirm that we will double the Scottish Child Payment from the start of the new financial year. This increase to £20 per child per week will reach over 105,000 children under age six in just four months’ time. When we extend the Scottish Child Payment to all under 16s at the end of next year, over 400,000 children and their families will be eligible.
“This is the boldest and most ambitious anti-poverty measure anywhere in the UK. Delivering it isn’t easy. It will involve hard choices elsewhere in our budget. But it is a choice we are opting to make.
“Eradicating child poverty is essential if we are to build the strongest foundation for Scotland’s future. And that is what we are determined to do.”
Additional payment welcomed by charity
News of the benefit uplift has been welcomed by The Joseph Rowantree Foundation (JRF), however, the charity has warned more action is needed to support the most vulnerable.
Chris Birt, Associate Director for Scotland at JRF said: “This is very welcome news that will provide vital support for families with young children following what is expected to be a challenging winter as the cost of living continues to rise. Doubling the payment for older children cannot come soon enough.
“As we noted in our Poverty in Scotland report, this investment alone will not be enough to meet the interim child poverty targets, but it is an important step in the right direction and will make a real difference to families.”
What benefits are you entitled to?
If you’re concerned about your finances it’s important to be aware of the benefits you could be entitled to.
Checking your benefit entitlement is easy using this simple tool. The benefits calculator is free to use and you will remain anonymous.
It’s a quick and easy way to discover what benefits you could get, access information about how to claim as well as details of how benefits will be affected if you start work.
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