The leader of a children’s charity has welcomed a 25% increase in the Scottish child payment as she urges more needs to be done to support those in need this winter.
From today, the family support payment will increase from £20 a week to £25; marking a 150% rise since April.
The eligible age range has also been extended to now include those with children under the age of 16.
Previously the age limit was under the age of six.
The changes to the Scottish Government scheme are to ensure more support is available for families in need this winter to help bring an end to child poverty.
It is estimated around 400,000 children will now be eligible for the payment each month.
It comes as Scots endure the gruelling effects of the cost of living crisis, forcing many to choose between heating or eating.
SallyAnn Kelly, chief executive of children’s charity Aberlour welcomed the news but stressed government ministers must ensure the payment continues to increase in line with inflation.
Scottish Child Payment applications are now open for children aged under 16.
People can apply for the payment of £100 every 4 weeks if they
☑️get Universal Credit, tax credits or other qualifying benefits
☑️have a child or children aged under 16Apply at https://t.co/eX3LhNLoKD pic.twitter.com/FSqNGC5tEv
— Social Security Scotland (@SocSecScot) November 14, 2022
Speaking on Monday’s Good Morning Scotland (GMS) programme on Radio Scotland, she said: “We really welcome the increase in the Scottish child payment.
“We are one of the charities who have been campaigning over a number of years for the payment to be introduced and also for the payment to be increased so we really welcome it. It will be a real help to families who are really struggling in Scotland.
“We think that the Scottish Government needs to keep a very close eye on it and make sure that the real value of the payment doesn’t fall so we would be urging them to keep the payment increases in line with inflation because the next couple of years is going to be very, very difficult for families in Scotland as we know.”
Who will be eligible to apply?
Families who are already receiving a range of UK Government reserved benefits will be entitled to apply for financial support.
These benefits range from universal credit, child tax credit and income support to pension credit, working tax credit and income-based job seekers allowance.
Applications will open online from 8am.
Additional staff has been recruited by the Scottish Government to help process applications faster.
However, it is unclear at this time how long families will have to wait for their applications to be approved.
Ben Macpherson, Scottish minister for social security says the increase of the Scottish child payment will go a long way in helping lift children out of poverty.
Figures estimate improvements to the scheme will help change the lives of around 50,000 young people in Scotland.
Helping end child poverty in Scotland
Speaking on GMS he said: “The uplift in the amount, which kicks in from today, going from £20 per child per week to £25 per child per week will immediately benefit over 100,00 children and then the extension to under 16’s being able to apply for the benefit today extends it to an estimated 400,000 children that will be able to get assistance from this game-changing anti-poverty measure.
“We as a government and Scotland more widely are committed to addressing child poverty through the Child Poverty Act 2017 and of course that has made the government focus on what we can do to provide intervention that makes a difference.”
He added: “Our projections show that this measure has the potential to lift 50,000 children out of poverty and of course that is a significant impact on getting towards those targets. We as a government are very committed to reducing child poverty and meeting those targets.”
When asked if the fund will continue to rise with inflation, Mr McPherson said a report will be published each year setting out the impacts.
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