New benefit for low income families welcomed

Families that Aberlour support across Scotland will benefit from a brand new benefit for low income families.

The £250 Early Learning Payment is now open for applications for children aged between two to three and a half and can be used for anything from children’s clothes and shoes to toys, books or days out.

This payment is part of the Scottish Government’s new Best Start Grant package. This financial support includes the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, which has been open for applications since December and the Best Start Grant School Age payment which will open in June.

Best Start Grant is for families in receipt of eligible benefits – including Universal Credit, Income Support, Housing Benefit – and tax credits to help at key stages in a child’s life.

Speaking to Central FM news earlier today, Liz Nolan, Assistant Director for Aberlour said: “We welcome the commitment from Scottish Government to support families, but more can still be done for families experiencing financial hardship.

“The recently published poverty statistics show that child poverty is rising. Families that we work with on a daily basis are struggling to afford basic and essential items for their children so we need to look at doing more to increase families household incomes”.

Earlier this year we reported record demand for Aberlour’s own Urgent Assistance Fund from families struggling to make ends meet.

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