The Scottish Government has announced more than 300,000 children and young people under the age of 16 are now receiving £25 weekly Scottish Child Payments. New figures show 303,000 families were receiving the £100 monthly payment at the end of March.
The total amount of the devolved benefit paid out since its launch in February 2021 now stands at £248.6 million. However, in 2023/24, around 370,000 children will be eligible for the payment, but only 309,000 are forecast to benefit from it with the biggest gap predicted for six to 15-year-olds where only 80 per cent of 257,000 youngsters in this age group will take it up.
By contrast, the take up rate for children under six is estimated to be 92 per cent this year. Scottish Child Payment was extended to include all eligible children until their 16th birthday and increased to £25 per child per week in November last year.
