Scottish budget 2026 includes child payment increase for babies under one

The Scottish budget 2026 pledges to raise the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week for families with a baby under one; charities gave mixed responses and said most children will not receive extra support immediately.

The Scottish budget for 2026 includes a pledge to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week for families with a baby under the age of one. The change is described as targeted support for infants and is scheduled to take effect more than a year after the announcement. Charities and child welfare groups have reacted differently, noting both positive aspects and limitations of the proposal. Key points: - The budget pledges to raise the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week for families with a baby under one. - Reporting states the increase will not take effect for over a year. - Some charities, including the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and the food bank charity Trussell, said the change leaves most children without additional financial support and may not prevent families with older children using food banks. - Save the Children welcomed the targeted increase for babies under one and described it as significant for efforts to reduce child poverty. Summary: The budget focuses new financial support on infants while many older children would not receive extra payments, producing mixed responses from charities. The delayed start date means the change will not benefit families immediately. Undetermined at this time