Question
Untitled item
S6W-04832 · Written Question · lodged by Duncan-Glancy, Pam
Lodged on
01 Dec 2021Heard / answered on
22 Dec 2021To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase current Scottish Child Payment bridging payments for children from six years and above, who would be entitled to the Scottish Child Payment under the full roll-out, to bring them into line with the increased payment rate of £20 per week.
The answer
This year’s Scottish Budget is a budget of choices and we have chosen to back our national mission to tackle child poverty and strengthen support available for families during the cost of living crisis.
The Budget commits almost £200 million to double the Scottish Child Payment to £20 from April 2022, immediately benefiting 111,000 children under the age of 6.
We remain committed to delivering the Scottish Child Payment for children and young people aged 6-15 by the end of 2022, subject to receipt of the necessary data from DWP, at which point more than 400,000 children will be eligible.
In advance we are supporting as many school age children and young people as possible through our Bridging Payments, worth £520 in 2022. This innovative response, which makes use of the data local authorities have, is delivering immediate support to around 150,000 children.
The Scottish Child Payment remains the best way to provide the support low income families need now which is why we have acted to double the payment from April.
The Budget commits almost £200 million to double the Scottish Child Payment to £20 from April 2022, immediately benefiting 111,000 children under the age of 6.
We remain committed to delivering the Scottish Child Payment for children and young people aged 6-15 by the end of 2022, subject to receipt of the necessary data from DWP, at which point more than 400,000 children will be eligible.
In advance we are supporting as many school age children and young people as possible through our Bridging Payments, worth £520 in 2022. This innovative response, which makes use of the data local authorities have, is delivering immediate support to around 150,000 children.
The Scottish Child Payment remains the best way to provide the support low income families need now which is why we have acted to double the payment from April.
Answered by Shona Robison on 22 Dec 2021.