Clare Adamson MSP has hailed the SNP’s Scottish Child Payment as a transformative measure to tackle poverty following today’s news that over £1 billion in Scottish Government investment has supported families since the payment was launched.
Introduced in February 2021, the Scottish Child Payment is a unique SNP policy. The payment is the most ambitious anti-poverty measure in the UK. It has been described as a “game-changer” by leading anti-poverty groups.
Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It's a weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for every child you look after who's under 16 years of age. You'll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.
Scottish Child Payment is one of the 5 family payments you may be able to get from Social Security Scotland, along with Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
In North Lanarkshire, £33,179,258 has been invested over the last four years, with 24,890 children benefitting from the support as of December 2024.
Following the passing of the Scottish Budget – which Scottish Labour inexplicably refused to vote for – the Scottish Child Payment will increase again to £27.15 per week from 1st April 2025. This comes alongside the beginning of work to scrap Labour’s two-child cap which is pushing 15,000 children into poverty.
Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said:
“Today marks a milestone for the SNP’s Scottish Child Payment – which has helped to lift children out of poverty right here in Motherwell and Wishaw.
“Nearly 25,000 children across North Lanarkshire have been supported by this transformational policy.
“Thanks to the SNP’s Budget, the payment will increase again from April in line with inflation to ensure its value and impact is maintained – with only Labour and Tory MSPs shamefully refusing to back it.
“The latest budget will bring a record £21 billion for our NHS, 8,000 new affordable homes, a Winter Heating Payment for every pensioner household, and action to end Labour’s two-child cap next year.
“That’s what you get under a John Swinney government: delivery for the people of Scotland.”
Scottish Budget
Scottish Child Payment
Payments available for families include:
Scottish Child Payment – over £100 every four weeks to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £754.65 after 24 weeks of pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £314.45 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two and three years and six months
Best Start Grant School Age Payment – one off payment of £314.45 to help with the costs of starting school when a child is first old enough to start primary one
Best Start Foods – up to £42.40 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food
Parents, carers and guardians can get more information at mygov.scot/fivefamilypayments or by calling free on 0800 182 2222.
Game Changer
How a £25 payment is turning Scotland into a European pioneer in reducing child deprivation – FT
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