Action Would Lift 563,000 Kids Out of Poverty
The SNP has challenged the Labour government to get serious about eradicating child poverty by matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide at the UK Budget, as research shows doing so would lift more than half a million children out of poverty across the UK – including more than 40,000 in Scotland.
The SNP has made the call to raise the child element of Universal Credit by Ā£26.70 per child per week across the UK, amid growing calls from anti-poverty campaigners and trade unions for the Labour government to end austerity cuts and put cash into people’s pockets.
Analysis by the House of Commons Library at the end of September, commissioned by the SNP and using Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data, shows that matching the Scottish Child Payment across the UK by raising the child element of Universal Credit would lift 563,000 children out of poverty across the UK.
In addition, the research shows that such a move would boost the incomes of around 200,000 low income households in Scotland, and more than 2.6 million households across the UK, by Ā£1,390 perĀ childĀ per year.
The SNP Scottish Government introduced theĀ ScottishĀ ChildĀ PaymentĀ in 2021 and has since increased its value by more than 160% to Ā£26.70 perĀ childĀ per week. The eligibility has also been extended to include children up to age 16.
The benefit, which is paid to Scottish families in addition to any UK-wide benefits, has been described as a “game-changer” by child poverty charities and is estimated to lift around 60,000 children out of poverty.
The Scottish Government has led the way in the UK with the most ambitious anti-poverty policies going, and the Scottish Child Payment is the centre piece of the SNP’s approach.
GRAEME
It is time that the UK Government takes seriously the clear evidence that this is making a major difference in the lives of struggling families, and replicates this support UK-wide.
Instead of making a political choice to continue with Tory policies and push even more children into poverty, the Labour Government needs to follow Scotland’s example.
Bold and urgent action is required from the Chancellor, not years more austerity.
