More than 2300 children in Angus are benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment

Almost 2400 children in Angus are thought to be benefitting from the payment, the value of which will double next month.

The payment was introduced in 2021 to support low-income families with children aged under six by providing regular, additional financial support for families already in receipt of qualifying benefits to assist with the costs of caring for a child.

And North Angus MSP Mairi Gougeon, has welcomed local figures which show that around 2395 children in Angus are in receipt of the payment, which is set to double in April to £20 per child per week.

As of December 31 last year, it is estimated that 104,000 children across Scotland were in receipt of Scottish Child Payment – equating to £45.2 million worth of payments by the Scottish Government.

That is expected to rise to more than 400,000 eligible children by the end of this year, which is when the benefit will be extended to children under the age of 16.

The payment is administered by Social Security Scotland through an application-based process, and is paid on a four-weekly basis.

Ms Gougeon said: “I am delighted that 2,395 children across Angus are benefitting from the Scottish Child Payment which will double in just a month’s time.

“Come April, this means that 2,95 children and families across Angus receive £20 per child per week - four times the amount originally demanded by campaigners and illustrating just how focused the Scottish Government is on meeting Scotland’s Child Poverty targets.

"Once again though, the tale of two governments is striking.

"While the SNP is doubling the Scottish Child Payment to lift thousands of children out of poverty, this game-changing action is being undone by the Tories at Westminster who have cut £20 per week from many of the same families – knowingly pushing thousands of families into poverty.

“The people in Angus deserve the chance to escape the damaging policies we get under Westminster control and choose a better path, one with the full powers that an independent Scotland would bring and allow us to build a fairer society.”

Applications to the fund can be submitted through my.gov.scot.