SNP Government provides a Further £300 million Cost of Living Support

Family benefits, free school meals and concessionary travel are part of support helping households to mitigate the increased cost of living.

Funding for 2022/23 includes:

• £294.4 million for Scottish Child Payment and other family benefits, including Best Start Grants, Best Start Foods and Bridging Payments

• £64 million for universal provision of free school meals during term time for children in P4 and P5 and alternative holiday provision for eligible children

• £306 million for concessionary travel

• £437 million to help with household bills via Council Tax Reduction and Water Charge Reduction

Kenneth Gibson MSP said:

“Within a limited budget, the SNP Government has managed to allocate almost £3 billion in this financial year to help households face the increased cost of living. This includes support for energy bills, childcare, health and travel, as well as social security payments not available anywhere else in the UK.

“Having already doubled the Scottish Child Payment to £20 per child per week, this will further increase to £25 and be extended to under 16s by the end of this year. This will mean a 150% increase in less than a year and around 400,000 children eligible for this vital anti-poverty benefit.

“Westminster holds most of the powers needed to tackle the cost of living crisis as well as borrowing and resourcing powers we do not currently have. This includes energy, the minimum wage, National Insurance and 85% of social security spending.

“As long as Scotland isn’t independent, the SNP Government continues to use the limited budget and constrained powers to work for people and help cushion the impact of the Tory Government’s cuts and policies.”

ENDS