Scottish Child Payment

 

Scottish Child Payment is a new payment for families on certain benefits or tax credits to help towards the costs of looking after a child.

The Scottish Child payment is paid by Social Security Scotland for eligible children under the age of 16. The current payment is £25 a week per eligible child, payable every four weeks in arrears, directly into your account.

There is no limit to the amount of children customers can apply for, and receiving the Scottish Child payment will not affect tax or other benefits.

It is not possible to automatically migrate Bridging Payment recipients to this benefit; therefore, families will be required to make an application to the Scottish Child Payment in order to receive ongoing support. 

You should take action to apply for the Scottish Child Payment if you are eligible. You will become eligible from the date of  the application and the award cannot be backdated, therefore any delay in an application may result in you losing out on money you would otherwise be entitled to.

There is no limit on how many children within a family can get Scottish Child Payment, so it will still be paid for a child affected by the two child limit in Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit

 

How to apply for Scottish Child Payment?

Customers should apply for Scottish Child Payment if they:

  • Receive a low-income benefit such as Universal Credit, Tax Credits or Pension Credit
  • Have responsibility for a child or children under the age of 16
  • Live in Scotland

 

To make a claim:

  • Phone Social Security Scotland by calling 0800 182 2222
  • Claim online at www.mygov.scot/benefits
  • Download a paper application form from www.mygov.scot/benefits

For further information regarding the Scottish Child Payment please visit Social Security Scotland website. The link can be found under our "Other Websites" section of this page.

 

Scottish Child Bridging Payments

The Scottish Child Payment Bridging Payments bring together the Covid hardship payments and Family Pandemic payment into one payment.

The Scottish Government have confirmed additional funding to local authorities to enable the final Bridging Payment to be paid in December 2022.  This has doubled in value to £260 for every eligible child.  It is anticipated that this will be paid ahead of the Christmas holidays.

No further Bridging Payments will be made once these awards have been made.