MSP hails new payment scheme as child poverty plight‘game-changer’

Wishaw’s MSP Clare Adamson has welcomed the introduction of the Scottish Child Payment labelling it a “game changer”.

The new Scottish Government payment scheme will give qualifying parents and carers £40 every four weeks for each child under six years old.

More than 77,000 Scottish Child Payment applications have been received since Social Security Scotland started taking applications on November 9. The first decisions and payments will arrive this month.

Parents and carers that have a child under six, and haven’t yet applied, are encouraged to as soon as possible to get the maximum amount of money they are entitled to.

Ms Adamson, MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, said: “Social Security Scotland was founded upon the principles of dignity and respect. Compassion must be at the heart of our approach to supporting people.

“This is a far-cry from the DWP culture of hostility and suspicion that people on low incomes have been forced to endure in the last 10 years.

“The SNP in Government is committed to supporting low-income families. The UK Chancellor must follow this example and make the £20 uplift to Universal Credit permanent.

“The Scottish Child Payment really is a game-changer and it will help to tackle child poverty both in Motherwell and Wishaw and across Scotland.

“If you have not already applied, please make you sure you do so now. There are thousands of applications to process and we want to get money to people as quickly as possible.”

●More information on the Scottish Child Payment can be found at www. mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment/ or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.