Glossary · UK
What is Scottish Child Payment?
A weekly devolved benefit from Social Security Scotland for low-income families with children under 16 who receive a qualifying benefit.
Full Definition
The Scottish Child Payment is a means-tested benefit administered by Social Security Scotland for families living in Scotland with children under 16. It is paid for each eligible child to parents or carers who receive a qualifying low-income benefit such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit or certain legacy benefits. The payment is made regularly (typically every four weeks) and is intended to help tackle child poverty by topping up household income. It is separate from UK-wide Child Benefit and from other Scottish family payments, and you can usually receive it alongside them. Because this is a devolved benefit with rates set by the Scottish Government and reviewed periodically, the exact weekly amount and eligibility detail should be checked on mygov.scot or with Social Security Scotland rather than assumed. It matters because it can significantly raise the disposable income of qualifying families, and unlike taxable income it does not reduce your Personal Allowance or affect Income Tax.