THE Scottish Government has said eradicating child poverty is a “key focus” as new figures show more than 300,000 children are in receipt of a child benefit.
Statistics from Social Security Scotland show that as of March 31 this year, some 321,885 children benefit from the Scottish Child Payment.
Launched in February 2021, the benefit – which is only available in Scotland – is a weekly payment of £28.20, paid every four weeks to every eligible child under 16 within a household.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government will continue to improve the Scottish Child Payment by increasing it to £40 per week for families with children under the age of one as announced in the Scottish Budget.
Somerville said: “Eradicating child poverty and supporting families with the cost of living is a key focus for this Government.
“It’s clear that the Scottish Child Payment is making a major difference to families, which is why we will now go further by increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for families with children under the age of one.
“We remain fully committed to doing everything we can to support families and give every child the best possible start in life. Scottish Child Payment remains central to that mission.”
The Scottish Child Payment has an estimated take-up rate of 94% among eligible people in Scotland.
Scottish Government analysis shows that the payment is expected to keep 50,000 children out of relative poverty in 2026–27.
During the Holyrood election campaign, the Scottish Greens similarly pledged to increase the Scottish Child Payment, to £55 per week by the end of the decade.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Tories had vowed to slash the benefit, by introducing a cap on the number of children within a household who are eligible for the payment.
