The Scottish Government has revealed that, starting next month, all families who currently receive Scottish Child Payment (SCP) will get more money through the benefit.
From November 14, those currently in receipt of SCP will see it increased automatically from £20 to £25. Applications for the benefit will also open to everyone under 16 who is eligible from November 14, and payments will be backdated to the time of the application.
According to new data released by Social Security Scotland, the average time for processing claims rose from 31 days in March to 36 days in June. As a result, if you submit an application on November 14, you may get your first payment at the start of 2023.
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As reported by the Daily Record, approximately £84 million has already been issued to families across Scotland since SCP was launched under 18 months ago. The benefit was introduced in February 2021 in an effort to tackle child poverty.
Around 400,000 people under the age of 16 will qualify for the benefit, with the Scottish Fiscal Commission estimating take-up of the benefit for more than 300,000 more children across Scotland.
Currently, approximately 104,000 young people under the age of six receive £20 per week through Scottish Child Payment.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon commented: “We are using our social security powers to take immediate steps to put cash in the pockets of families by doubling the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per week per child – support not replicated anywhere else in the UK.
“This is a key part of our national mission to tackle child poverty. We will further increase this payment to £25 by the end of 2022 – five times the amount campaigners originally asked. This will gives families additional financial support of £1,300 for each eligible child every year.
"We will back this with investment of around £671 million over the next two years – just part of our package of support for families."
She continued: “We are determined to give children the best start and a bright future by putting more money into the pockets of those who need it most.
"Increasing the Scottish Child Payment will make a real difference to families and help to build a more equal and fairer Scotland for everyone.”
What is the Scottish Child Payment?
Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £20 — which will rise to £25 starting November 14 — that you can claim for every young person you look after under the age of six — rising to 16 from November 14.
Successful claimants will get the benefit every four weeks.
SCP is part of a wider package of five family payments including:
- Best Start Grant
- Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment
- Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment
- Best Start Grant School Age Payment
- Best Start Foods
Who can apply?
Only one parent or carer can receive SCP for each child. The payment does not impact any other UK or Scottish Government benefit that you may receive.
You may be eligible for SCP if all of the following are true:
- you live in Scotland
- you or your partner are getting certain benefits or payments
- you or your partner are the main person looking after a child who's under six years old
Benefits or payment you or your partner must get
You can make a claim for SCP regardless of whether you are in work, so long as you are receiving at least one of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Child Tax Credit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit
- Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
How to apply
More information on how to make a claim for SCP can be found here.
You can also apply over the phone by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 222.
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