SNP MSP, Ruth Maguire, has welcomed statistics out today which show that approximately 3990 children in North Ayrshire are in receipt of the Scottish Government’s Scottish Child Payment, set to double to £20 per child per week in April.
The payment was introduced in 2021 to support low-income families with children aged under six, by providing regular, additional, financial support for families, already in receipt of qualifying benefits, to assist with the costs of caring for a child.
As of 31 December 2021, it is estimated that 104,000 children across Scotland were in receipt of Scottish Child Payment – equating to £45.2 million worth of payments by the Scottish Government – and that is expected to rise to over 400,000 eligible children by the end 2022, when the benefit will be extended to children under the age of 16.
Commenting SNP MSP for Cunninghame South, Ruth Maguire said:
“I am pleased that 3990 children across North Ayrshire are benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment, which will double in a month’s time.
“Come April, this means that 3990 children and families across North Ayrshire will receive £20 per child per week – four times the amount originally demanded by campaigners; illustrating the Scottish Government’s focus on meeting Scotland’s Child Poverty targets.
“Once again though, the tale of two governments is striking. While the SNP is doubling the Scottish Child Payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty, this game changing action is being undone by the Tories at Westminster who have cut £20 per week from many of the same families – knowingly pushing thousands of families into poverty.
“The people in Cunninghame South deserve the chance to escape the damaging policies we get under Westminster control and choose a better path, one with the full powers that an independent Scotland would bring and allow us to build a fairer society.”
Ruth Maguire MSP 