MSPs Welcome Support for New Families from Social Security Agency

The roll-out of a grant scheme for families with new children from the Scottish Social Security Agency has been welcomed by North-East MSPs.

Aberdeenshire East MSP Gillian Martin and Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson also highlighted the success of the new Carer’s Allowance Supplement for which more than 75,000 carers have now received top-up payments.

It comes as it was revealed the Best Start Grant is expected to begin ahead of Christmas

Eligible families will be provided with £600 on the birth of their first child and £300 on the birth of any subsequent children.

No limit will be put on the number of children that are supported and eligible families could also benefit from two further payments of £250 around the time of nursery and around the time a child starts school, to recognise the additional financial costs during these key transition periods.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said:

“The Scottish Government wants to help families with new additions as they begin their lives, giving them the best start possible.

“The Scottish Social Security Agency will endeavour to help support not just the first child born but the children who follow thereafter.

“Once again it is the SNP-led Scottish Government that is choosing to help give the best start unlike the Tories who have introduced measures including the two-child cap with its barbaric rape clause.”

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said:

“Families in the North-East of Scotland are facing tough times with harsh austerity measures.

“The Chancellor may have claimed in the budget the end to austerity is here but it is clear we must do all we can to continue to help mitigate against these harsh measures.

“It is great news the Scottish Government is helping to support families and making sure offer as much support as we can to new parents.”