Scottish Child Payment increased as parents can apply…

Scottish Child Payment increased as parents can apply for weekly income boost

Parents and carers of children up to the age of 16 throughout Scotland can now apply for the Scottish Child Payment.

It comes following an announcement from the Scottish Government widening the eligibility for the payment as well as increasing the payment rate from £20 to £25 from Monday, November 14.

Families who are currently receiving the payment will have the newly introduced increase automatically applied, with those making a new claim to have their payments backdated to the claim date to ensure nobody is missing out on the financial support this winter, reports The Daily Record.

The average processing times for claims increased from 31 working days to 36 days in the time period between March and June this year, according to statistics released by Social Security Scotland.

It means that those making a new application from November 14, when the rules changed, may not receive their first payment until the beginning of the new year. However, the first payment will include the backdated amount.

It is estimated that more than 400,000 under 16s will be eligible for the regular financial support following the rule change, with the Scottish Fiscal Commission anticipating over 300,000 children across the country to take up the support.

I Commenting on the expansion of the benefit, Minister for Social Security, Ben Macpherson, recently said: “Next week our transformative Scottish Child Payment will be extended to all eligible young people under the age of 16 and increased to £25 per week per child - a 150% rise within 8 months of introducing this important benefit, which is only available in Scotland. "

What is the Scottish Child Payment?

The Scottish Child Payment is in place to help towards to cost of support a family. The payment, now £25 per week, is paid for every child you look after who is under the age of 16.

The money is paid out every four weeks.

Scottish Child Payment 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 person can claim the payment for one child. The Scottish Child Payment does not affect any other UK or Scottish benefit that you, or any member of your household, claims.

You may be able to get Scottish Child Payment if all of the following apply:

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