Parents urged to apply now for new Scottish child payment
- Published
The Scottish child payment will open to under sixes but it is hoped it will be extended to under-16 children
The application process will open early for Scotland's new additional child benefit.
The Scottish child payment offers £10 per week for every child under six to eligible families on low incomes.
The benefit is due to be paid from 15 February 2021, but parents are being urged to apply from Monday 9 November, external to manage the expected high demand for the extra payment.
It is hoped it will be extended to children under 16 by the end of 2022.
Opposition parties welcomed the payment, as long as it reached all those eligible to receive it.
Scotland is the only part of the UK to offer the additional payment which could support up to 194,000 children this financial year. It is separate from the UK government's child benefit.
'Game changer'
The scheme has been praised by campaign groups, with the Poverty Alliance saying they were "delighted" and the Child Poverty Action Group calling it an "absolute game changer".
The payment was announced in June 2019 as part of the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan and will be paid to parents every four weeks.
Ministers have prioritised the early introduction for families with a child under six and despite the impact and disruption of Covid-19, are able to start payments from early 2021.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "The Scottish child payment is the most ambitious anti-poverty measure currently being undertaken anywhere in the UK. Almost 60% of all children in poverty live in a family where a child is under six so I am proud we are able to introduce it early for families with young children - almost two years ahead of the original commitment.
"We are expecting a significant demand for this new payment so are opening applications early from Monday 9 November and will make the first payments in around 15 weeks."
She said that significantly more families were now relying on benefits due to the events of this year and that the payment would help lift children in Scotland out of poverty.
'Basics and necessities'
Parents who apply early will start to receive cash from 15 February, those who apply afterwards will be paid from the application date.
Paul Carberry, Action for Children director for Scotland, said his staff were seeing the effects of child poverty every day.
Parents are encouraged to apply now so that payments can start when the benefit goes live in February
He said: "One simple act to help reduce child poverty is by putting money in the pockets of parents.
"The impacts of poverty are profound for Scotland's children, from poor mental and physical health and wellbeing to poor performance at school. The Scottish child payment will offer vital financial support for children, young people, and their families. It can give back choice and dignity. We urge all eligible families to apply for this."
The Scottish Conservatives said it was right that support was in place for those who needed it most.
'Seriously concerned'
Social security spokeswoman Rachael Hamilton said: "The SNP government must ensure that those who are eligible are fully aware of this process so that they don't miss out.
"The new Scottish child payment must be kept under review to monitor its progress towards reaching the Scottish government's own child poverty targets."
Labour's equalities spokeswoman Pauline McNeill said the pandemic had made the need for the Scottish child payment more urgent than ever.
But she said: "The wait to receive the funds risks leaving families in financial hardship.
"As the payment is only eligible to children below six, despite the fact that it will be delayed until February, Scottish Labour is calling for the payment to be backdated so that the families of those children that are eligible now, but turn six before February, are not excluded."
The Scottish Green party feared the move would not go far enough.
Spokeswoman Alison Johnstone said: "I do welcome the introduction of the child payment.
"However, I am seriously concerned that this support won't get to every family who needs it, with estimates suggesting one fifth of those eligible may not claim because they are not aware of it, while others who don't claim qualifying benefits like universal credit will also miss out."
- Published26 June 2019
