The Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland have called for the government to ensure fewer children miss out.
Child poverty campaigners are calling on Holyrood ministers to ensure the Scottish child payment at the very least holds its real terms value in the coming year, and that action is taken to ensure more children benefit.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland have warned that families in Scotland are missing out due to a link with UK universal credit, calling for an above inflation increase to ensure payment holds its real terms value for hard up families as costs spiral.
CPAG say the UK two-child limit and young parent penalty undermining potential impact of payment for priority groups.
The call comes as frontline advisers and policy experts are gathering for an online event to discuss “What next for the Scottish child payment?”.
CPAG in Scotland, who are hosting the event as part of Challenge Poverty Week, believe that a current Scottish government consultation asking whether Scottish Child Payment should be limited by its status as a “top-up” to UK benefits is an opportunity to put the payment on a new footing and ensure fewer children miss out.
They say their evidence shows too many children in low-income families are not getting the benefit, in part because the payment is a ‘top up’ to universal credit.
Establishing the payment as a stand-alone benefit creates potential to shape the payment so that more children in hard up families benefit.
John Dickie, director of the CPAG in Scotland, said: “The Scottish child payment is already helping thousands of families just when they need support most.
“It’s increase to £25 a week and roll out to all eligible under 16s next month really can’t come soon enough. It’s now vital that the £25 payment holds its real terms value in the face of rising costs.
“We urge Ministers to commit to at least an above inflation increase in April next year. In the meantime, the government’s consultation on the future status of the payment is a welcome opportunity to look at how the success of the payment can be built on so that no child at risk of poverty misses out.”
