PARENTS URGED TO MAKE CHILD PAYMENT CLAIM

Parents in Renfrewshire are being urged to apply for Scottish Child Payment on the first anniversary of its roll out.

The payment of £10 per week, unique to Scotland, began in February 2021 as a direct measure to tackle poverty. It provides regular, additional financial support to parents and carers to help with the costs of caring for a child.

Since launch, the families of around 106,000 children across Scotland – including nearly 4,000 successful applications in Renfrewshire – have benefited from £520 a year with payments due to double to £20 per week from April this year.

By the end of this year – subject to data being made available by the DWP – the payment will extend to include all eligible children under the age of 16.

The Scottish Child Payment is part of a package of support from the Scottish Government targeted at low income households that came to nearly £2 billion in 2019-20, including nearly £700 million specifically aimed at children.

Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP, Gavin Newlands, urged families who might be eligible to get their claim in sooner rather than later.

Gavin said:

“The Scottish Child Payment is a key plank in the Scottish Government’s strategy to help tackle child poverty, and its doubling to £20 a week from April will bring even greater benefits to thousands of households across Renfrewshire.

“But that support is only available if people apply for it.  Anyone who thinks they might qualify should visit mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or call 0800 182 2222 to speak to Social Security Scotland and find out if they are eligible.

“With other schemes like the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods running as well, there’s a range of direct financial help for families across Renfrewshire and Scotland.

“From April, our Scottish Child Payment will double to £20 a week – four times the amount anti-poverty campaigners originally asked for. Together with our Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments, this will provide a package of financial support worth £8,400 by the time an eligible family’s first child turns 6.

“If you think a friend or family member might qualify, please encourage them to find out more and to help to ensure that everyone eligible gets the support they are entitled too.

“While Westminster may be sitting on their hands when it comes to the cost of living crisis, the Scottish Government are committed, within the limited powers they have, to direct help to children in poverty and try to tackle child poverty at its root.”