An MSP says thousands of low-income Ayrshire families will benefit when the Scottish Child Payment is doubled.
Ayr, Prestwick and Troon SNP MSP Siobhian Brown welcomed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's pledge that the payment will increase to £20 per week from April 2022.
The payment will also be extended to children under the age of 16 – after previously being for families with kids under the age of six.
Ms Brown has told how the boosted payment will help at least 2,235 eligible children across South Ayrshire with thousands more in line for a boost in East and North Ayrshire.
Since the launch of the Scottish Government payment on February 15, around £618,800 has been issued in payments to families in the South Ayrshire local authority region.
Ms Brown said: “I am delighted that at least 2,235 children across South Ayrshire will have their Scottish Child Payment doubled in just four months time.
“This will give £20 per child per week to 2,235 children in South Ayrshire – four times the amount originally demanded by campaigners.”
Ms Brown believes the boost is a mark of the Scottish Government's pledge to end child poverty.
She added: “The doubling of the Scottish Child Payment to £20 is the type of bold action that makes a real difference to people’s lives and shows how focused the Scottish Government is on meeting Scotland’s child poverty targets.”
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