Coronavirus advice and updates: My team have put some new pages together to keep you updated on the coronavirus situation. You can access them here.
Coronavirus AdviceAlmond Valley MSP Angela Constance has welcomed new figures showing that 2,520 payments to low income families have been made under the Scottish Government’s Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods schemes in West Lothian.
The Best Start Grant package is putting more money in the pockets of low income families than the DWP system it replaced.
The Grant comprises three cash payments: the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, for parents with babies up to 6 months old; the Early Learning Payment, for when your child is 2 to 3 and a half years old; and the School Age payment, for when your child reaches school age.
Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that can be used in shops and online to buy healthy foods for children under 3.
The vast majority, 69% of the 3,645 applications processed from West Lothian were approved by Social Security Scotland.
Across the country, £17.8 million of Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments have been made to support people between 10 December 2018 and 30 September 2019.
Ms Constance said that these figures showed what could be achieved if Scotland had full powers over social security.
The representative for Almond Valley commented:
“These payments are making a big difference to West Lothian families that are being pushed to the brink by continued Tory welfare cuts.
“The Scottish Government has strived to mitigate the worst effects of the Tories’ austerity agenda. The Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods payments sit in stark contrast to the two-child cap, benefits freeze and disastrous Universal Credit rollout recklessly imposed by the Tories. We can create a social security system which works to protect people rather than treating those on low incomes with the hostility and suspicion they have been subjected to under the Tories.
ENDS
Background
For more detailed breakdown of eligibility
https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods/
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods: high level statistics to 30 September 2019
Key Findings from Report
01506 460403
angela.constance.msp@parliament.scot
Unit 4, Ochil House, Beveridge Square, Livingston, West Lothian, EH54 6QF