Natalie Don MSP has welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement today that Scottish Child Payment will be doubled to £20 per week per child from April 2022.
The MSP for Renfrewshire North and West hailed the increase in the payment, which provides essential support for low income families with children aged under six.
Parents who receive qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Tax Credit, Income Support, Pension Credit, Working Tax Credit income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can apply for the Scottish Child Payment.
Natalie Don MSP welcomes the Scottish Government’s announcement about doubling the Scottish Child Payment.
Natalie Don MSP said: “I am proud that the SNP is delivering the most ambitious anti-poverty measure in the UK in the shape of the Scottish Child Payment which is designed to improve the everyday lives of children in low income families in Renfrewshire and across Scotland.
“With rising energy costs and the UK Tory Government’s callous cut to the Universal Credit £20 uplift bringing further hardship and plunging more local families into poverty, I am delighted that the Scottish Government has acted quickly to protect children in our communities who need supported most.
“With out-of-touch Westminster Tory politicians continuing to decide the vast majority of welfare policies which are having such damaging impacting on the most vulnerable people in our society, the Scottish Government’s doubling of the Scottish Child Payment shows exactly why we need full powers over all social security in the Scottish Parliament to complete our national mission of eradicating child poverty.”
The benefit, which is unique in the UK, will be fully rolled out to children under the age of 16 by the end of 2022, subject to data on qualifying benefits being received from the UK Government’s Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
Parents can apply for the benefit by going to www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment/how-to-apply