Thousands of families across Lanarkshire are to benefit from a child payment boost next year.
The Scottish Child Payment will be doubled from April 2022, increasing from £10 to £20 in a bid to combat poverty among kids.
That will benefit 6745 eligible families across South Lanarkshire and 9195 in North Lanarkshire.
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said the doubling of the benefit was “the boldest and most ambitious" anti-poverty measure anywhere in the UK.
She told Lanarkshire Live : “I am delighted that around 7000 children across South Lanarkshire will have their Scottish Child Payment doubled in just four months’ time.
"This will give local eligible families £20 per child per week - four times the amount originally called for by campaigners.
“The doubling of the Scottish Child Payment is the type of game-changing action that makes a real difference to people’s lives and shows how focussed the Scottish Government is on meeting child poverty targets. "
Ms Haughey also used the news, announced earlier this week by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, to criticise the Westminster government.
She added: "The contrast between Holyrood and Westminster is striking. Whilst the Scottish Government is giving more money to families in need, the UK Government has just cut £20 per week from many of the same families – knowingly pushing thousands of people into poverty.
"The steps taken by the Scottish Government are the boldest and most ambitious anti-poverty measures anywhere in the UK."
The benefit, which is unique in the UK, will be fully rolled out to children under the age of 16 by the end of 2022, subject to data on qualifying benefits being received from the Department of Work and Pensions.
It is expected over 400,000 children could be eligible for the doubled payment from that point.
From 2023/24 it will represent an annual investment in tackling child poverty of around £360 million a year.
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