The Scottish Government recently launched the second Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan - Best Start, Bright Futures - which sets out its commitments to help tackle child poverty across the country between now and 2026.
Actions are outlined in the plan with the ultimate aim of breaking the cycle of poverty and providing children with support through their early years. This includes things like increasing Scottish Child Payment from £20 to £25 a week, £150 payments for families to help tackle soaring energy bills and the Discretionary Housing Payment.
The plan also focuses on long-term parental employment opportunities, strengthened social security and support to reduce household costs.
Below is a brief summary of current and future support available from the Scottish Government.
Discretionary Housing Payment
If you rent your home and get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, but still can't afford your housing costs, you may be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment.
A Discretionary Housing Payment can be made if you:
- claim Housing Benefit but it doesn't cover all your rent
- claim Universal Credit but still can't afford your housing costs
- need help with removal costs
- need help with a rent deposit
Discretionary Housing Payment does not cover additional services charged to the tenant or a rent element which would not be considered for Housing Benefit purposes.
This includes:
- fuel charges
- meals
- water and sewerage charges
- cable and satellite, TV licence, TV rental
- window cleaning - unless the claimant is in sheltered accommodation or the tenant is unable to do it themselves due to age, disability or the fact that their accommodation is not on the ground floor
- cleaning - unless it is for a communal area
- counselling and support services
- emergency alarm system
- laundry
- medical expenses
- nursing and personal care
- sports facilities
- transport
Your local council is responsible for deciding if you are eligible to get a Discretionary Housing Payment.
Visit your local council's website to find out:
- if you're eligible
How to apply
Find out more on the mygov.scot website here.
Best Start Foods eligibility changes
The Scottish Government announced plans to remove the income threshold from Best Start Foods payments by 2023-24.
This will mean increasing eligibility to all people in receipt of Universal Credit and removing the income thresholds for all qualifying benefits.
The change brings eligibility in line with Best Start Grants and Scottish Child Payment and is expected to see around 30,000 more people benefit from the financial support.
Best Start Foods is paid to eligible parents, carers and pregnant mothers before their child turns three - find out more here.
Family payments easier to access
The Scottish Government will be making it easier for families to access the support they are entitled to.
New rules will be introduced which will allow Social Security Scotland to automatically award the Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment to people who receive Scottish Child Payment.
It is hoped the changes will start to take effect when Scottish Child Payment rises to £25 a week and is extended to all children under-16 by the end of this year.
Additional support for families
All newborn babies in Scotland are eligible to receive a free Baby Box containing essential items such as clothes, books and a changing mat.
More information on the Baby Box and how to receive one can be found on the Parent Club website here, along with additional advice for parents.
For families with children aged three and four, funded early learning places are available.
Funded by the Scottish Government, parents can get up to 1,140 hours of free early learning and childcare a year.
Find more information on the mygov.scot website here.
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