Child payment reaches 8700

NEW figures show that 8700 children and young people in Dumfries and Galloway are being supported by the Scottish Government’s Scottish Child Payment. The latest statistics from Social Security Scotland show that 321,375 children across Scotland were actively benefiting from the Scottish Child Payment at the end of December, with 8735 of those children living in the region. The Scotland-only benefit has now given families crucial financial support to help with the cost of raising children totalling over £1.4 billion since being launched by the SNP Scottish Government five years ago A recent report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation found that child poverty rates in Scotland are the lowest in the UK. Commenting on the updated figures, South MSP Emma Harper said: “The Scottish Child Payment is making a real difference for families in Dumfries and Galloway. With over 8,700 children locally benefitting, this support is helping to put money directly into the pockets of families as the cost of essentials continues to soar. “There is still much work to do, and that’s why we are increasing the Scottish Child Payment to £40 per week for children under one and rolling out free breakfast clubs across the country."