MSP urges parents to apply for child payment benefit
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NORTH-east families are being urged to apply for a new payment which will open next month.
The Scottish Child Payment has already received 56,000 applications from across Scotland after families were given early access due to expected demand.
Those who applied prior to February 15 will have their payments calculated from then.
Parents have been encouraged to make their applications now to avoid losing out on money.
The new benefit will give eligible families on tax credits or certain benefits an extra £40 every four weeks for children under six.
The news was welcomed by Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson.
He said: “It is clear many families have already put in their applications early and I would encourage those living in the north-east who would be eligible to also do so.
“The Scottish Child Payment is the most ambitious anti-poverty measure currently being undertaken in the UK but there are many more families who are entitled to this support and it is important they are able to get every penny that is due.
“We know how many families will have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and the impact it has had on the economy.
“The form takes only 10 minutes to complete and the extra financial support could help ease financial pressure as a result of the national lockdown and following the Christmas period.”
Scotland is the only part of the UK where this additional payment for families with young children will be available.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission have forecast that the payment could support up to 194,000 children this financial year.
