Scottish Ministers plan payment to stop impact of two child benefit cap

The Scottish Government is planning to introduce a new payment to stop the impact of the two child benefit cap from March next year.

Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville is expected to announce the plan formally on a visit to a nursery later.

In a broadcast exclusive, she said: “The Scottish Government has consistently called on the UK Government to end the two-child cap.

"Reports suggest that they are looking at the impact it is having.

"But the evidence is clear and families and Scotland can’t wait any longer for the UK Government to make up its mind to do the right thing and scrap the cap once and for all.

“The Two Child Limit Payment will begin accepting applications in March next year.

"At less than 15 months from when we announced this in the Scottish budget, this will be the fastest that a Scottish social security benefit has been delivered.

“This builds upon the considerable action we have taken in Scotland, including delivering unparalleled financial support through our Scottish Child Payment, investing to clear school meal debts, and continuing to support almost 10,000 children by mitigating the UK Government’s Benefit Cap as fully as possible."

Modelling by the Scottish Government claims the new payment could mean around 20,000 fewer children would be in relative poverty by 2026-27.

Shirley-Anne added: “However, austerity decisions taken by the UK Government are holding back Scotland’s progress.

"Modelling published in March makes clear that if the UK Government act decisively on child poverty, they could help to take an estimated 100,000 children out of poverty this year.”

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