More than 28,000 apply for new child benefit payment

More than 28,000 requests for the Scottish child payment were received in the first t wo days of applications for the new b enefit b eing op en, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

Parents and carers who receive other welfare supp o r t s u c h a s U n i v e r s a l Credit or unemployment benefits can now apply for the £10 per week payment for each child under the age of six.

The payment is par t of the Scottish Government's efforts to reduce child poverty, and it should be rolled out for all qualifying children aged under 16 by 2022.

Speaking in the Scottish Pa r l i a men t d u r i n g Fi r s t Minister's Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: "The S cottish child payment opened for applications on Monday.

"I n i t i a l m a n a g e m e n t information indicates that by the end of Tuesday, over 28,000 applications have been received."

If all applicants are eligible, they would account for more than 14% of the estimated 194,000 young children who qualify.

Ms Sturgeon added: "This p ay m e n t i s i n t e n d e d t o tackle child p over t y and with the economic impact of the pandemic meaning more households are reliant on benefits, we need to make sure that reaches all eligible families.

"T h e p l a n s we h ave t o promote the Scottish child payment have been set out publicly and include carrying out an extensive advertising campaign, but also making information available through a number of routes including midwives and health visitor packs, t h e b a b y b ox a n d n u r s - ery and school enrolment packs.

"I would encourage all parents and carers of the 194,000 children that could b e e ligible to make sure they apply for this.”