Highlighting the Help Available
Thousands of single parents are being offered a helping hand on National Single Parents Day (21 March), thanks to a link-up between One Parent Families Scotland and Social Security Scotland.
While 25% of children in Scotland live in poverty, the figure is much higher, 40%, for children in single parent families. A quarter of all the families with dependent children are single parent households.
Working together as part of One Parent Families Scotlandās āSingle Parent Communityā Campaign, both organisations are working to highlight the support that is available to eligible parents and carers. including Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and Best Start Grant.
Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant aim to give children the best start in life. They offer financial support to families, both in and out of work, who receive certain benefits and tax credits.
Best Start Grant consists of three payments designed to provide support at key stages in a childās life: Pregnancy and Baby Payment, Early Learning Payment and School Age Payment.
Scottish Child Payment, unique to Scotland, is payable to eligible families in receipt of Universal Credit or certain other qualifying reserved benefits, for children aged under-16. Unlike the UK Government there is no limit to the number of children a family can receive the payment for
Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of Ā£26.70 paid every 4 weeks to eligible people.
— Social Security Scotland (@SocSecScot) March 20, 2025
If you're part of an organisation supporting families, help us spread the word to by using the shareable content at: https://t.co/2HD8pdQ6af
All parents know that bringing up children can be hard work ā and doing so as a single parent household can be even more so.Ā So Iām proud of the support that the Scottish Government offers single parent families.
SOCIAL JUSTICE SECRETARY SHIRLEY-ANNE SOMERVILLE
A report from the Fraser of Allander Institute, about health inequalities in Scotland, highlighted that single parents are much more likely to experience food insecurity than other household types. In stark terms food insecurity is when a person doesnāt have reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious, healthy food.
That is why the support the Scottish Government provides is so crucial, especially for single parent families. Since it was introduced in August 2019, Ā£65.6million has been paid in Best Start Foods to provide exactly the nutritious, healthy food children need.
And over Ā£1 billion worth of Scottish Child payments have been issued by 31 December 2024; putting money directly into the pockets of those families who need it most.Ā
Today, on Single Parents Day we're celebrating single parents while acknowledging the stigma they still face and how the experience can affect your mental health.
— Mental Health Foundation (@mentalhealth) March 21, 2025
These stats show the need for support for single parents. Read more: https://t.co/deZylw2xST#SingleParentsDay pic.twitter.com/BS3X63r8JH
For too many single parents, the challenge of making ends meet is a daily struggle. With 38% of children in single parent families living in poverty, financial support like Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grants can be life-changing.
SATWAT REHMAN, OPFS CHIEF EXECUTIVE
These payments put money directly into the hands of families who need it most, helping to ease the pressure of rising costs and ensuring children have the essentials they deserve.
One Parent Families Scotland is proud to work alongside Social Security Scotland to make sure single parents know about and can access the support they are entitled to.
