December Bridging Payment Doubling to £260
Families of an estimated 145,000 children will benefit from extra support this winter to help with cost-of-living pressures – backed by Scottish Government investment of £18.9 million.
Bridging Payments were introduced in 2021 ahead of the extension of the Scottish Child Payment to those aged 6-15 and support around 145,000 school age children. All children registered to receive free school meals on the basis of family low income are eligible, and will receive this payment automatically.
In 2021, families received up to £520 per eligible child. The final quarterly Bridging Payment, due in December, will now be doubled to £260 – meaning families will receive up to £650 per eligible child this year.
Total Scottish Government funding for the Bridging Payments will increase to an estimated £169 million across 2021 and 2022.
This is in addition to the Scottish Child Payment, which will be extended to all eligible under-16s and rise to £25 per child per week from 14th November – a 150% increase in the benefit within eight months.
– Graeme
The increase to this Bridging Payment is the latest example of the Scottish Government doing everything within its limited powers to support people through the cost-of-living crisis.
This winter is set to be a really difficult one for many in our communities here in Angus and right across Scotland, and providing this additional support is the right thing to do.
It comes as the game-changing Scottish Child Payment, unique in the UK, is set to be greatly expanded and increased again as well – a move that will benefit a great many Angus families, and hopefully help ease financial worries.
It stands in stark contrast to the priorities of the Tories at Westminster – clear for all to see – and I hope this will allow for a brighter Christmas than would otherwise be possible in too many households.
🤝 In November, we will increase our Scottish Child Payment to £25 – labelled "game-changing" by anti-poverty charities.
💛 For those who don't qualify for the Child Payment yet, we will provide a £260 winter payment for 145,000 children. #SNP22 pic.twitter.com/UH2NtvQi0S
— The SNP (@theSNP) October 10, 2022
– First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
I am proud of the work the Scottish Government is doing to tackle child poverty. The Scottish Child Payment is paid to eligible families and is unique in the United Kingdom. It started for under-6s at £10 per week per eligible child. In April we doubled it to £20. Five weeks from today we will increase it again, to £25 and will also extend it to families with children up to age 16.
That is vital financial help for well over 100,000 children, delivered in time for Christmas. That is the sign of a government with the right priorities.
But we need to do more because we know this winter is going to be really tough. Rather than looking forward to Christmas, too many families will be dreading it because they don’t know if they can afford to heat their homes or even pay for food.
As part of our help to the poorest families over last year and this, ahead of rolling out the Scottish Child Payment to under 16s, we have made quarterly bridging payments of £130 to children and young people in receipt of free school meals.
I am delighted that the Scottish Government will double the December Payment from £130 to £260.
That will help put food on the Christmas table for families of 145,000 children and young people. I don’t pretend it will make all of their worries go away – no government with our limited powers can ever do that. But I hope this investment of almost £20 million will bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need it most.
Background
The normally £130 Bridging Payment payments are paid quarterly by councils on behalf of the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government will make available additional funds to double the December payment. Delivery is subject to approval by COSLA Leaders.
Scotland is the only nation in the UK offering the Scottish Child Payment, one of five family benefits delivered by the Scottish Government to support low-income parents with the costs of raising a child.
Information on support for households is available at gov.scot/costoflivingsupport
