Parents of young kids can apply for cash help
Parents in Renfrewshire are being encouraged to apply for the Scottish Child Payment as an estimated 78,775 children have already benefitted since its launch.
The benefit, which is unique to Scotland, is intended to help lowincome families with the costs of raising a child.
It gives qualifying parents and carers £40 every four weeks for each child under six.
A total of 92 per cent of the applications received and processed have been approved, and payments started in February.
Applications were received from people living in Renfrewshire and all other 31 local authorities in Scotland, with the highest number of 17,330 from Glasgow City.
Parents and carers are able to apply for all eligible children in their household in a single application and can also apply for Best Start Grants and Best Start Foods at the same time.
Scottish Child Payment is in addition to the UK-wide Child Benefit.
Cabinet Secretary for Social Security Shirley-Anne Somerville said:“It is great to see so many families benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment and that it is making a positive impact on the lives of so many children.
“We are working hard to tackle child poverty and it is fantastic to see the number of households being supported so quickly after the payment’s launch.
“It is a benefit unique to Scotland within the UK, and has been hailed as a potential game-changer in the fight against child poverty.
“It shows how, with the welfare powers we have gained, we are making a real, positive difference to the lives of young people and their families, boosting the life chances of children across the country.”