News updates for single parents
Latest updates from the Advice and Information team can be found below.
Child Maintenance Service needs root and branch review (7/2/2019)- The system for ensuring non-resident parents pay child maintenance has amassed nearly £1billion pounds in arrears, new government figures show. The Scottish MP Marion Fellows is leading calls for a review by the UK government of the Child Maintenance Service (CMS).… Read more...
Best Start Scotland (6/2/2019)- Best Start Grant The Scottish Government has now replaced the Sure Start Maternity grant with Best Start Pregnancy and Baby grant. Qualifying families will receive £600 from 25th week of pregnancy to 6 months after the birth of their first child… Read more...
Carer’s Allowance Supplement Scotland (5/16/2019)- The Scottish Government is paying a £442 per year supplement to people in receipt of carer’s allowance. A new benefit to replace carer’s allowance, called Carer’s Assistance, will be introduced which pays the same amount as income support and jobseekers… Read more...
Can you get help with childcare costs if you have more than 2 children? (4/30/2019)- Yes, you can get help to pay for childcare for all qualifying children even if you only get child tax credit, universal credit and help with housing costs for two. If you are affected by the ‘2 child limit’ you… Read more...
Benefits and other changes for single parents from April 2019 (4/25/2019)- Universal Credit Universal credit is now available throughout Scotland for all new claims. People getting legacy benefits will be moved onto universal credit by a Managed Migration. Managed migration will be piloted in July 2019 for a few claimants, but… Read more...
Support if you’re affected by domestic abuse (4/5/2019)- Domestic Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial abuse of one person by another with whom the person is or has had a relationship with. Domestic abuse also affects children. Physical Abuse can include slapping, punching, hitting, kicking and… Read more...
What does the autumn budget mean for you? (11/13/2018)- Universal Credit Changes Two major announcements were made in the Autumn budget. Firstly, the Government committed to additional protections for people transitioning to Universal Credit. These plans are yet to be finalised, and we will update this page when there is… Read more...
What is Kinship Care? (8/14/2018)- Sometimes a child will go to live full-time with an aunt, uncle, grandparent or a family friend when they can’t live with their parents. The decision for this to happen can be made formally or informally and is called kinship… Read more...
Help to Pay for Childcare from Universal Credit (8/7/2018)- Universal credit contains an element to help pay for childcare costs if you are working or have accepted a job offer. It does not matter how many hours you work as long as the childcare you are paying for is registered with… Read more...
