Families in Highland Perthshire will benefit from extra support in the run up to Christmas as Nicola Sturgeon doubles December bridging payment to £260.
Doubling the final bridging payment will provide families with up to £650 per child this winter with all children registered to receive free school meals eligible.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced the policy at the SNP conference saying: “I am proud of the work the Scottish Government is doing to tackle child poverty. 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.
“That will help put food on the Christmas table for families of 145,000 children and young people.
But I hope this investment of almost £20 million will bring a bit of Christmas cheer to those who need it most.”
Bridging payments were introduced in 2021 in anticipation of the Scottish Child Payment extending to all eligible under-16s from the 14th of November. The payment is also rising to £25 per child per week on the same date.
Bridging Payments support around 145,000 school age children across Scotland and are paid quarterly by councils on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Scottish Child Payment is currently available to families of eligible children under six years old and will open to applications for under 16s from the 14th of November.
Information on support for households is available at www.gov.scot/costoflivingsupport