Scottish Child Payment: interim evaluation

Findings

In this chapter of the report, the data sources outlined in the methodology chapter are used to evaluate progress towards Scottish Child Payment’s immediate, short-term and medium-term policy outcomes. Based on this, likely progress towards the Scottish Government’s longer term outcomes are assessed. The section ends with a discussion of the policy implications which emerge from the evaluation findings.

Achievement against immediate Scottish Child Payment policy outcomes

This section evaluates Scottish Child Payment against the following policy outcomes:

• Scottish Child Payment is well promoted
• Scottish Child Payment and its eligibility criteria are well understood
• Scottish Child Payment is taken up
• Making an application is clear and easy
• Applications are processed in a timely manner
• Awareness is raised about other forms of support
• Clients feel they have been treated with dignity, fairness and respect

Where applicable, it uses data from Official Statistics, Social Security Scotland research, and bespoke commissioned research.

Scottish Child Payment is well promoted

There are a number of ways to evaluate whether Scottish Child Payment is well promoted. An indirect method is to look at overall take-up of Scottish Child Payment, as this could be related to the effectiveness of promotional activity.^[7] Take-up refers to the extent to which people receive the benefits they are eligible for. This can be estimated by measuring the ‘take-up’ rate, which is the number of benefit recipients divided by the number of people eligible to receive the benefit.

A provisional take-up estimate is provided for Scottish Child Payment in the Social security: benefit take-up strategy. It shows that, as of June 2021, take-up was estimated to be 77%. This means that:

1. Most people who were eligible for Scottish Child Payment claimed the benefit, indicating that promotions were largely effective.

2. Almost 1 in 4 eligible people had not claimed the benefit, suggesting further steps may still be needed to maximise take-up of the benefit.

However, it should be noted that take-up of Scottish Child Payment was estimated shortly after the benefit was launched, so this take-up figure is now outdated. An updated estimate of take-up will be published later this year.

Another way to evaluate Scottish Child Payment promotion is to consider how people find out about the benefit. The commissioned research shows that the participants found out about Scottish Child Payment in a range of ways, including:

• Word of mouth (either through formal support services – health visitors, midwives, housing officers, support workers – or from friends and family)
• Media advertising (including TV news, TV adverts radio adverts, and social media promotion), and
• Advertising through existing services they already used (for example, seeing it mentioned on their council’s Facebook page, online benefits calculators, advice organisations, or communication from or posters at their child’s school or nursery).

Third sector participants expressed mixed views on the promotion of Scottish Child Payment. They felt it had been fairly well and widely publicised. However, there was also a belief that it could have been publicised more effectively e.g. by using different forms of social media, like Facebook Live, and by putting on a new campaign to promote take-up every year to make new parents aware of the benefit.

Scottish Child Payment and its eligibility criteria are well understood

The commissioned research participants, including Scottish Child Payment recipients, said they were clear about why the benefit had been introduced and how it was intended to work. They variously described the payment as intended to help families out of poverty, to make it easier for them to buy essentials for their families, and to help provide a better quality of life for their children.

However, there was some confusion over the eligibility criteria of Scottish Child Payment e.g. whether eligibility was defined by existing benefit entitlement or income. Additionally, a third sector participant said that some recipients do not realise the payment will stop when their child turns 6. This was reflected in the testimony of a parent, who said that her payment stopping (when her child turned 6) was unexpected. She found this to be a stressful and disappointing experience.

Scottish Child Payment is taken up

A direct way to assess progress on this outcome is to calculate the ‘take-up’ rate, which is the number of benefit recipients divided by the number of people eligible to receive the benefit. As mentioned above, take-up of Scottish Child Payment was estimated to be 77% as of June 2021. This figure is similar to other low-income benefits administered by Social Security Scotland. For example, take-up for Best Start Foods was estimated to be 77%, and take-up for the Best Start Grants ranged from 79%-84%.

There are other ways to evaluate the overall reach of Scottish Child Payment. For example, Official Statistics show that for the period covering November 2020 to March 2022, 157,755 Scottish Child Payment applications were made, of which 148,170 had been processed. Of these, 86% were authorised, 12% were denied, and 2% were withdrawn (see Figure 2). Official Statistics also show that an estimated 103,000 children were in reciept of Scottish Child Payment as of 31 March 2022.

Investigation of Social Security Scotland management information shows the most common reasons why applications were denied:

• The applicant was not in receipt of a qualifying benefit
• The applicant was not looking after any child under 6 years old.

Official Statistics also show that 550 redeterminations^[8] were requested by Scottish Child Payment applicants up to March 2022 - representing 0.4% of all processed applications. 535 of these had been decided, of which:

• 245 were allowed or partially allowed
• 155 were disallowed and
• 135 were withdrawn.

Another way to assess the take-up and overall reach of Scottish Child Payment is to consider the diversity of people applying for or receiving the benefit. This can be done by examining data on the demographics and individual characteristics of applicants.

Official Statistics show that Scottish Child Payment applications were submitted by people living in all 32 local authorities in Scotland. In terms of total approved applications to March 2022, the highest local authorities were Glasgow City (25,945), North Lanarkshire (12,550), and Fife (11,910). The lowest were Na h-Eileanan Siar (445), Shetland Islands (335), and Orkney Islands (320).

Both Official Statistics and Social Security Scotland client diversity and equalities analysis provides more information on the outcomes of applications by each of the equalities groups:

• Table 1 presents a secondary analysis of Official Statistics data on the age of clients who had their applications approved from up to March 2022
• Table 2 presents a secondary analysis of equalities data on clients who had their applications approved from December 2020 to May 2021.^[9]

As mentioned in the methodology chapter, data is presented to zero decimal places. ‘0%’ should therefore be interpreted to mean less than 0.5%. If no responses were given then this is denoted by ‘-‘. A more detailed breakdown of the data in both of these tables, with additional notes, is provided at Annex A.

Table 1 Scottish Child Payment approved applicants by Age-group, February 2021 to March 2022 (n=127,095)

Age-group	%
Under 18	0%
18-24	16%
25-34	54%
35-44	26%
45-54	3%
55+	0%

Table 2 Scottish Child Payment equalities data for approved applications, December 2020 to May 2021 (n=29,955)

Category	%
Gender
Woman	90%
Man	8%
In another way	0%
Preferred not to say	2%
Physical or mental health condition or illness
Yes	16%
No	76%
Preferred not to say	8%
Ethnicity
White	89%
Asian	4%
African	2%
Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups	1%
Other ethnic group	1%
Caribbean or black	0%
Preferred not to say	3%
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual	90%
Gay & lesbian	0%
Bisexual	2%
In another way	0%
Prefer not to say	7%
Transgender
Yes	0%
No	96%
Prefer not to say	3%
6-fold Urban Rural Classification[10]
Large urban area	35%
Other urban area	40%
Accessible small town	8%
Remote small town	4%
Accessible rural area	9%
Remote rural area	4%
SIMD Quintile[11]
1 (most deprived)	40%
2	26%
3	17%
4	12%
5 (least deprived)	5%
Residence on mainland or island communities
Scottish Mainland	98%
Scottish Island	1%

As outlined in the introduction to this report, Scottish Child Payment is a key strategic commitment in the Scottish Government’s plan to address child poverty. The tackling child poverty delivery plan^[1] identifies six groups who are especially vulnerable of poverty. Although data is not routinely collected and/or published on these groups, it is possible to report the following about them based on the data that is currently available:

1. Lone parents - Secondary analysis of the most recently published Scottish Child Payment Official Statistics shows that, up to March 2022, 58% of those who had their applications approved were assumed to be lone parents. However, since it is possible for applicants to not fill in information about their partners, overestimation of lone parents can occur and thus caution is needed when interpreting this figure. Further detail on this secondary analysis is provided at Annex A.

2. Families with a disabled or adult child – As shown in Table 2 above, 16% of those who had their applications approved between December 2020 and May 2021 reported having a physical or mental health condition or illness. However this may be an underestimation of the true figure, as 8% preferred not to say. Additionally, no data is routinely collected about the physical or mental health condition or illness of applicants’ other family members.

3. Mothers aged under 25 – It is not possible to calculate exactly how many mothers aged under 25 have applied for Scottish Child Payment. However:

• As shown in Table 1 above, 14% of those who had their applications approved between November 2020 and March 2022 were aged under 25.
• As shown in Table 2 above, 90% of those who had their applications approved between December 2020 and May 2021 identified as being female (2% preferred not to say).

4. Minority ethnic families – As shown in Table 2 above, 8% of those who had their applications approved between December 2020 and May 2021 identified as being non-White. However this may be an underestimation of the true figure, as 3% preferred not to say. Additionally, no data is routinely collected about the ethnicity of applicants’ other family members.

5. Families with a child under 1 – Secondary analysis of the most recently published Scottish Child Payment Official Statistics shows that, up to March 2022, 23% of those who had their applications approved were applicants who reported having a child aged under 1. Further detail on this secondary analysis is provided at Annex A.

6. Larger families (with three or more children) – Client survey data shows that 32% of respondents who had applied for Scottish Child Payment (n=4,553) reported having 3 or more children in their households. However, as outlined earlier in this report, Client Survey data is drawn from a self-selecting sample of applicants. Therefore it cannot be assumed that this figure is representative of Scottish Child Payment applicants as a whole.

Making an application is clear and easy

Official Statistics show that for all applications to March 2022, 145,505 (92%) were made online, 9,365 (6%) were made on the telephone, and 2,600 (2%) were paper-based.

The Client Survey asks respondents about their experience of the application process. Amongst Scottish Child Payment applicants (n=757-764):

• 62% said their experience of the application process overall was ‘very good’, and 32% said it was ‘good’ (i.e. 94% positive)
• 55% ‘strongly agreed’ that the application process was clear, and 41% ‘agreed’ (i.e. 96% positive).

In the commissioned research, Scottish Child Payment recipients were very positive about their experience of applying for the benefit. Interviewees, including some who identified as being dyslexic, reported that the application form was easy and quick to complete. They compared it favourably with previous experiences of applying for benefits, and, because the application form was viewed to be easy, there was a sense that families were entitled to apply for Scottish Child Payment.

It was actually quite easy. Compared to a lot of forms that I’ve filled out, that was the most easiest form ever. I didn't have any difficulty with that – it was just a matter of your name, your date of birth, address, everything like that.

(Parent 6, age 35+, single parent)

I liked that you didn't have to prove yourself to get SCP, you were already entitled to it. It was less daunting because it wasn't evidence-heavy and you don't have to justify taking the money, which is something I have found off-putting about applying for support.

(Parent 38, age 25-34, single parent, 3+ children)

Despite generally positive comments the Scottish Child Payment application form, participants identified a small number of issues that they encountered e.g. a perception that telephone applications took too long, or that some of the demographic questions (included in the Equality Monitoring and Feedback form) seemed intrusive or irrelevant.^[12]

Applications and payments are well administered

According to Official Statistics, a total of 147,605 Scottish Child Payment applications were processed between November 2020 and March 2022 (not including cases where a re-determination was requested - i.e. approximately 0.4% of applications). Processing times are calculated from the point of initial benefit application until a decision on the application is made, and includes time spent waiting to receive copies of documents or evidence requested from applicants.

On the basis described above, a monthly breakdown of Scottish Child Payment application processing times is shown in Table 3.^[13] The table begins in February 2021 - the month from which payments were first administered after the initial application window. The data highlights three distinct periods:

1. From February to April 2021, 1% to 3% of applications were processed within 10 working days, and average processing times ranged from 36-55 working days.

2. In the months from May to August 2021, 44% to 57% of applications were processed within 10 working days, and average processing times ranged from 8 to 16 working days. This was the most efficient period of application processing since February 2021.

3. In the months from September 2021 to March 2022, 1% to 8% of applications were processed within 10 working days, and average processing times ranged from 15 to 31 working days.

Please note that the period of 10 working days is used in Table 3 to illustrate how processing times have changed each month since the benefit was launched. While Social Security Scotland aim to process applications as quickly as possible, there is no set target for providing Scottish Child Payment applicants with a decision on their claim.

Table 3 Scottish Child Payment application processing times per month

Month	Number of processed applications (excluding redeterminations)	Percentage of applications processed within 10 working days	Average (median) processing time in working days
Feb-21	21,920	1%	55
Mar-21	26,325	1%	36
Apr-21	17,895	3%	36
May-21	6,920	44%	16
Jun-21	9,000	55%	10
Jul-21	5,450	57%	8
Aug-21	4,670	53%	9
Sep-21	3,750	8%	15
Oct-21	2,875	2%	20
Nov-21	3,795	2%	20
Dec-21	2,415	1%	26
Jan-22	3,155	1%	29
Feb-22	3,220	2%	25
Mar-22	2,970	2%	31

The Client Survey asked respondents their opinion on (a) whether their application was handled within a reasonable time frame, and (b) whether they got enough updates on the progress of their application. The answers are provided in Table 4. They show that most felt that their applications were handled in a reasonable time (88% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’), and that they got enough progress updates on their applications (80% ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’).^[14] However, it is worth noting that:

• While only 4% ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’ that the time spent handling their application was reasonable,
• 9% ‘disagreed’ or ‘strongly disagreed’ that they got enough progress updates on their applications.

These findings suggest that applicants were more likely to feel negatively about communications while waiting for a decision, compared to overall time spent waiting for a decision. The Client Survey also found that 18% of Scottish Child Payment respondents (n=765) contacted Social Security Scotland to find out about the progress of their application, and 24% had done so to find out their application result.

Table 4 Scottish Child Payment applicants’ thoughts on application processing times and updates

	Number of respondents	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
My application was handled in a reasonable timeframe	744	2%	2%	8%	42%	46%
I got enough updates on the progress of my application	742	3%	6%	11%	37%	43%

In the commissioned research, participants discussed communications from Social Security Scotland once they had submitted their applications. Most said they were clear and prompt, notifying them when their first payment would arrive. However, there were exceptions to these positive experiences, where parents reported having wanted more communication to keep them updated on the progress of their application and payment. Being kept fully informed was important to families who were struggling financially.

The majority of the time I think it was me phoning them – to see what was going on, and if I was eligible, and what was going on. I phoned them a couple of times. So on their behalf, I feel like the communication was a wee bit poor. Because I did call them a couple of times, because I was struggling when she was born, money-wise.

(Parent 36, age 18-24, rural area)

According to Official Statistics, 1,156,525 payments were administered to Scottish Child Payment recipients between February 2021 and March 2022, with a total payment value of £58,628,360. The Client Survey asked respondents questions about their experience of receiving payment(s). Amongst Scottish Child Payment recipients (n=1,142-1,184):

• 90% received their payment when Social Security Scotland said they would
• 92% received the right amount first time
• 92% received the right amount every time

Awareness is raised about other forms of support

The Client Survey asked respondents who had been in contact with a member of Social Security Scotland staff whether they had been told about (a) other benefits they might have been entitled to, and/or (b) other sources of additional help (e.g. Citizens Advice Scotland). As shown in Table 5:

• 28% of respondents who had only applied for Scottish Child Payment and had spoken to a member of staff (n=225) said they were told about other benefits, compared to 33% who were not told about other benefits (but would have liked to have been told).^[15]
• 22% of respondents who had applied for Scottish Child Payment said they were told about other sources of additional help, compared to 29% who were not told about other forms of additional help (but would have liked to have been told).

Notably, Client Survey findings also show that respondents who were told about other benefits or sources of additional help were much more likely to rate their overall experience with Social Security Scotland staff positively.

Table 5 Scottish Child Payment applicants being informed by Social Security Scotland staff about other forms of support

	Number of respondents	Yes	No, but I would have liked them to	Not applicable	Can’t remember/don’t know
Did staff tell you about other benefits you might be entitled to?	225	28%	33%	26%	13%
Did staff tell you about other sources of additional help	224	22%	29%	35%	14%

Participants in the commissioned research were asked whether they had been told about other benefits or support when applying for Scottish Child Payment. In practice, this was often very difficult to establish. Participants generally either did not remember being advised about other support at the point of application, or were already in receipt of the other benefits that were mentioned to them (such as Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods). However, there were exceptions to this, where parents said they had found out about other benefits from Scottish Child Payment letters or through the application process, and had applied for those benefits as a result.

Yes - they told me about Best Start Foods - I didn't think I was entitled to that. That was the lady over the phone - she was absolutely fantastic. I do receive that now - that gets paid onto a card.

(Parent 5, age 35+, single parent)

There was no evidence from the parents and carers interviewed that applying for Scottish Child Payment had led to referrals to advice services or other non-financial support.

Clients are treated with dignity and respect

The Client Survey asked applicants directly about their experiences with Social Security Scotland, including how they felt they had been treated by the organisation. The responses from Scottish Child Payment applicants (see Table 6) show that a large majority ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they had been treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.

Table 6 Scottish Child Payment applicants’ treatment by Social Security Scotland

	Number of respondents	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I was treated with dignity	763	0%	1%	7%	34%	54%
I was treated with fairness	759	-	2%	6%	35%	54%
I was treated with respect	762	-	1%	6%	35%	55%

The Client Survey also shows that 29% (n=225) of respondents who had applied for Scottish Child Payment had been in contact with Social Security Scotland staff. Of these respondents:

• 66% rated their experience with staff as very good
• 28% rated their experience as good
• 2% rated their experience with staff as poor or very poor.

Survey respondents were asked more questions about their interactions with staff. As shown in Table 7, large majorities of Scottish Child Payment recipients felt that (a) they had been treated with kindness by staff, (b) staff were able to help them, and (c) staff were knowledgeable about benefits.

Table 7 Scottish Child Payment applicants’ thoughts on interactions with Social Security Scotland staff

	Number of respondents	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither agree nor disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree
I was treated with kindness	224	-	1%	3%	28%	67%
Staff were able to help me	222	2%	2%	5%	28%	62%
Staff were knowledgeable about benefits	224	0%	2%	7%	30%	59%

The Client Survey also asked whether respondents felt that they had been discriminated against at any point during their experience with Social Security Scotland. Amongst Scottish Child Payment applicants (n=760), 2% said they had been discriminated against, whilst 3% preferred not to say.

Feedback statistics collated by Social Security Scotland show that, between September 2019 and September 2021, 65 complaints were received for Scottish Child Payment out of the 134,080 applications which had been received at that time. Of these:

• 35 related to ‘Client Expectations not met – Quality of Service’
• 20 related to ‘Client Expectations not met – Timescales’
• 5 related to ‘Client expectations not met – Accessing services’
• 5 related to ‘Client expectations not met – Information provided’
• 5 were for ‘Disagreement with a decision’.

For the same period, Social Security Scotland received 10 compliments for Scottish Child Payment.

Achievement against short-term policy outcomes

This section evaluates Scottish Child Payment against the following policy outcomes:

• Increased child-related spend
• Reduced pressure on household finances
• Reduced money-related stress
• Children able to participate in social and educational opportunities
• Improved position of main carers within households

It is based mostly on findings from bespoke commissioned research, but also draws on findings from the Client Survey where possible.

Increased child-related spend

The parents and carers who participated in the commissioned research discussed how they spent Scottish Child Payment. Some used the payment for whatever was needed for the whole family, and others ‘ringfenced’ the money to be spent only on their child or children (sometimes including older children who were not currently eligible for Scottish Child Payment). The range of examples provided by participants indicate that Scottish Child Payment has led to increased child-related spend. They included:

• Essential items specifically for the eligible child, such as nappies, clothing, or food.
• Small treat items for their children, which they would otherwise often be unable to afford (e.g. children’s magazines, toys, ice cream and craft materials)
• Activities and day trips, including family days out with their children (e.g. taking their child to the zoo) and activity groups for children (e.g. play group or dance classes)
• Less commonly (because most spent the money every month on essentials they otherwise could not afford), parents said they tried to save some of it, in a savings account specifically for their child.

Parents of disabled children interviewed for the research said they had used Scottish Child Payment to buy things to help their child with their disability. These included both essential medical items (such as incontinence pads) and items specifically designed to support their child’s development or learning (such as sensory toys and books to help with a child’s dyslexia). Parents also mentioned using the payment towards taxi journeys with, or for, their disabled child.

I get sensory toys, fidget stuff as well, things for the bath that light up. Sometimes if he’s having a breakdown, he can break them, and they need replaced.

(Parent 23, age 25-34, single parent)

I can take the kids out more because I don't have to say no all the time, and I know we can afford a taxi home if [my child] gets upset.

(Parent 38, age 25-34, single parent, 3+ children, has a disabled child)

Reduced pressure on household finances

Client Survey respondents were asked to rate, on a scale of 0-10 (‘not at all’ to ‘a lot’), how much their benefit payment (a) helped them to control their finances, (b) helped to make a difference to their life, and (c) helped them to pay for what they needed. The average scores for Scottish Child Payment respondents who had received the benefit (n=1,188) were:

• 7.1 out of 10 for “help you to control your finances”
• 7.9 out of 10 for “help make a difference to your life”
• 7.7 out of 10 for “help you to pay for what you needed”.

The scores indicate that Scottish Child Payment has had a generally positive impact on people who receive the benefit. However, it is notable that, of the three measures, respondents (on average) felt the payment was least impactful for controlling finances.

The commissioned research findings broadly reflect these impact scores. Those who said they used Scottish Child Payment for basic expenses such as food or bills felt its impact keenly, with one describing the payment as a ‘lifesaver’. There was a strong sense amongst these participants that they depended on it to buy these things or avoid getting into debt in order to do so.

I completely rely on them [the payments]. I don’t know how the bills would end up, how the food would be on the table, how we’d survive with the child. It makes me stressed to think about these things.

(Parent 26, age 35+, Male)

The findings also suggest that Scottish Child Payment has contributed to reducing food poverty. One parent said they had previously relied on food parcels, while another described having to skip meals in the past when they were struggling financially. Other participants thought that without Scottish Child Payment they might be forced to cut back on their food budget or make use of food banks.

Others said that they did not rely on the payment for household essentials. However, even among these parents there was a recognition that they relied on the payment to fund trips or treats that they felt improved their children’s quality of life, and which they would otherwise miss out on.

Yeah [I do rely on Scottish Child Payment] […] I don’t rely on it in terms of it would cause an issue food-wise or housing-wise, but it would have an impact on [my son]’s happiness.

(Parent 38, age 25-34, single parent, 3+ children)

Despite these positives, the commissioned research participants also felt that Scottish Child Payment was not a large enough sum of money to completely transform their financial situation. For some families, Scottish Child Payment was seen as just a ‘wee bit extra’ which helped to alleviate some of the financial pressure they were under. This did not change the fact that their household budgets remained very tight, and that spending required very careful planning from week to week to ensure they had enough for everything they and their children needed.

Parents also reported that the sharp increases in the costs of living experienced in 2021 and continuing into 2022 had already reduced the spending power of Scottish Child Payment. Third sector representatives echoed these views.

Ten pounds a week isn’t a high enough level of benefit to take somebody out of poverty. The clients that I’ve seen – many of them are in poverty and experience material deprivation. While it’s improved their wellbeing it certainly hasn’t taken them out of poverty. […] It would take a significant amount of money to take people out of poverty because the gap’s getting wider between income and expenditure.

(Third sector organisation 1)

Reduced money-related stress

Parents and carers who took part in the commissioned research said that Scottish Child Payment has helped to reduce their financial worries around everyday budgeting, and that this had a positive impact on their mental health. The payment was also described as providing general ‘peace of mind’ for families, particularly knowing that they would have money to use in the event of unexpected costs or an emergency.

[Scottish Child Payment] did lessen my worries quite a lot to be honest. Money's the one thing I'm always stressing about, always thinking about, always worrying about. It was a relief to have that extra boost.

(Parent 22, age 18-24, care-experienced, 3+ children)

[Scottish Child Payment helps with] not having to stress out because you know it’s coming. When I get stressed, I don’t sleep. I don’t deal well with stress. I don’t want the kids to see me stressed.

(Parent 18, age 25-34, single parent)

Children able to participate in social and educational opportunities

The commissioned research shows that Scottish Child Payment does enable children to participate in social and educational opportunities. Parents and carers said they used Scottish Child Payment specifically for days out to places they would not otherwise be able to afford to attend (such as a zoo), as well as for more regular activities (like parent and toddler groups). They felt that they would not be able to participate in these activities without Scottish Child Payment, or could only do so infrequently.

Even if parents did not use Scottish Child Payment for day trips, the payment still helped them to take their children out more. This was particularly the case for families with a disabled child, for whom having the extra money made trips out seem less risky.

[Scottish Child Payment has] encouraged me to take [my son] out a lot more often. He was the hardest, he had zero concept of money. Obviously saying no can trigger a meltdown.

(Parent 38, age 25-34, single parent, 3+ children, has a disabled child)

Improved position of main carers within households

In the Client Survey, 81% of respondents who had claimed Scottish Child Payment (n=4,862) reported that they had the main caring responsibility for children in their household. However, as outlined earlier in this report, Client Survey data is drawn from a self-selecting sample of applicants. Therefore it cannot be assumed that this figure is representative of Scottish Child Payment applicants as a whole.

The commissioned research provides only limited evidence to suggest that Scottish Child Payment improves the position of main carers within households.^[16] For example, one mother felt that receiving the payment gave her a level of independence, as it was the only source of household income that came directly to her. Another described having had to ask her husband for money for nappies prior to receiving Scottish Child Payment. Most participants, however, did not feel like Scottish Child Payment had necessarily improved their position within the household. Some also said that their partner (who was not the main carer) received the payment, but they did not feel that it made a difference to how the money was spent.

Achievement against medium-term policy outcomes

This section evaluates Scottish Child Payment against the following policy outcomes:

• Reduced incidence of debt
• Reduced incidence of material deprivation
• Improved health and wellbeing
• Reduced barriers to education and the labour market
• Positive impact on the Scottish economy

It uses data from bespoke commissioned research, Official Statistics and Social Security Scotland research. However, a full evaluation against these outcomes would require: (a) more time to have passed since the benefit was implemented, and (b) access to more robust quantitative data.

Reduced incidence of debt

As discussed earlier in the findings section, the commissioned research shows that some parents did not feel they needed Scottish Child Payment for household essentials. However, those who did need the money for household essentials strongly felt that receiving Scottish Child Payment had reduced their risk of falling into debt. Parents credited the benefit with reducing their need to borrow, either formally (for example, using their bank overdraft) or informally (from family or friends). For example, one participant explained how they would have used money for bills to buy milk and snacks for their children if they did not have Scottish Child Payment.

I would take money out of my bill money, so they had everything they needed before paying anything else…I would be behind on bills and would have to ask my mum to borrow money to be able to pay the bills.

(Parent 34, age 18-24, single parent, care-experienced)

Reduced incidence of material deprivation

As mentioned earlier in the findings section, Client Survey respondents who received Scottish Child Payment gave the benefit an average score of 7.7 out of 10 when asked if it helped them to pay for what they needed (where 0 is ‘not at all’ and 10 is ‘a lot’). This could be viewed as an indirect way to assess whether Scottish Child Payment has reduced material deprivation. The score indicates that Scottish Child Payment, at the £10 rate, has generally helped people to pay for what they need, but that this is not necessarily the case for everyone all of the time.

The Client Survey findings are broadly reflected in the commissioned research. As discussed above, some participants said they relied on Scottish Child Payment to pay for essential household items that they could not otherwise afford, including food and bills. However, they also said that the their financial situation was still difficult, and that rising costs had limited the impact of Scottish Child Payment. Third sector representatives agreed that the payment had helped, but said that material deprivation is still an issue amongst their clients.

Improved health and wellbeing

The commissioned research shows that Scottish Child Payment has led to a wide range of positive health and wellbeing impacts for parents and their children. As mentioned above, the payment helps to alleviate parents’ financial worries and gives them general peace of mind. However, participants also said it helped their wellbeing due to:

• Increased happiness as a result of seeing benefits for their children
• A decreased sense of guilt or embarrassment at not being able to afford things for their children
• Boosts to their own health and wellbeing as a result of being able to use the payment towards items for the whole family (such as healthy food) or for family trips out, helping reduce parental isolation
• A sense or recognition and care from the Scottish Government.

Parents also described various ways they believed Scottish Child Payment had supported their child’s physical health. This included being able to buy enough (or better quality) food for them, and spending the payment on activities such as swimming, gymnastics, or dance classes.

He likes swimming and gymnastics and they’re the two most expensive groups, it helps his balance, coordination, how to move his body, we probably would have done them a bit less without [Scottish Child Payment].

(Parent 32, age 18-24)

Parents with disabled children said the payment had improved their ability to access the medical care or support their child needed, including by paying for transport to get to hospital quicker, or paying for specific items their child needs because of their disability or medical condition (such as incontinence pads).

The research also uncovered various ways in which Scottish Child Payment was believed to have helped support children’s emotional wellbeing, including:

• By enabling parents to meet their children’s basic needs, SCP reduced emotional distress associated with hunger or other deprivation
• By enabling parents to provide occasional ‘treats’
• By enabling parents to buy their children items directly aimed at improving their emotional and mental wellbeing (such as sensory toys or resources to support home learning)
• By enabling parents to take their children on activities or trips, Scottish Child Payment benefited their emotional wellbeing both directly (in terms of enjoyment, improved social skills and confidence) and through supporting them to spend additional quality time together as a family, and
• By reducing parents’ own stress levels, which in turn had a positive impact on their children’s wellbeing.

However, others were keen to emphasise that they did everything they could to avoid their own financial stresses impacting on their children, either emotionally or materially. Similarly, parents often stressed that they always put their child’s emotional wellbeing first; as a result, some did not necessarily feel that receiving Scottish Child Payment had a significant impact in this regard, although it may have made things easier for them as parents financially.

Reduced barriers to education and the labour market

The commissioned research provides a limited amount of evidence to suggest that Scottish Child Payment can reduce barriers to education and the labour market. One interviewee said the payment helped her to stay in university by providing additional income security so that she did not have to worry about not being able to take on a full-time job while studying. Others said they used the money to pay for travel to interviews, a new job, or college. However, there was not a great deal of discussion on this topic, partly because many participants were full-time carers for their young children and therefore were not seeking employment or access to education.

Positive impact on the Scottish economy

It has been demonstrated throughout the findings section that Scottish Child Payment has generally allowed parents and carers to spend money they otherwise would not have spent on essential items and items such as toys, treats, or trips out for children. Additionally, recipients in the commissioned research tended to spend the whole payment, with only a small number saying they tried to save some of the money. This suggests a substantial portion of the money paid out for Scottish Child Payment remained in Scotland’s economy. Given that, according to Official Statistics, payments totalling £58,628,360 were issued to March 2022, it is reasonable to assume that this spending will have had a positive impact on the Scottish economy. However, some of the potential economic benefits associated with Scottish Child Payment would be expected to accrue in the long-term (e.g. potential for improved educational outcomes for children). It would require a full economic evaluation^[17] to measure the extent of this impact and this would be outside the scope of this work.

Participants in the commissioned research were also asked where they spent Scottish Child Payment, to see if it allowed them to shop locally. In a small number of cases participants said Scottish Child Payment had allowed them to buy from local shops, or to buy local produce that would otherwise be outwith their budget. However, most said that while the payment allowed them to buy more or different things, it did not change the shops they used. Parents discussed going to large local supermarkets, shopping online, or sometimes going to a mix of (generally bigger) shops to get the best deals.

Evidence of progress towards long-term outcomes for children and their families

As set out in the tackling child poverty delivery plan^[1], the Scottish Government has been delivering support for families and children across a range of policy areas, including social security. These actions are intended to contribute to the following long-term government outcomes:

• Reduced child poverty
• Reduced inequality of outcomes for children
• Reduced incidence of social exclusion

Scottish Child Payment will make an important contribution towards these targets. However, it will not play an exclusive role. For example, Scottish Child Payment is part of a package of Scottish Government policies which are expected to have a cumulative impact on child poverty.^[18] Measuring the impact of Scottish Child Payment would also require (a) suitable time to have passed since the payment was introduced, and (b) access to more robust and suitable quantitative data than is currently available. It should also be noted, however, that isolating the specific role of Scottish Child Payment would be challenging even with additional data.

Nevertheless, the Scottish Government does publish child poverty statistics, which can be used to monitor general progress towards its stated targets. Child poverty targets and the most recent child poverty statistics are shown in Table 8.

Table 8 Child poverty in Scotland: latest statistics and future government targets

	2019/20	2023/24 target	2030/31 target
Relative poverty Children living in low income households, compared to the UK average household	26%	18%	10%
Absolute poverty Children living in low income households where living standards are not increasing.	23%	14%	5%
Combined low income and material deprivation Children living in low income households who can’t afford basic essential goods and services	12%	8%	5%
Persistent poverty Children living in households in poverty for three years out of four.	10%	8%	5%

In addition, it can be reasonably expected that success against Scottish Child Payment’s immediate, short-term, and medium-term policy outcomes could contribute to the Scottish Government achieving its long-term outcomes. Based on the evidence presented in this report, the following summary of progress can be made.

Progress towards immediate outcomes

• The purpose of Scottish Child Payment is generally well-understood by recipients, albeit there is some confusion over eligibility criteria.
• Overall, there is a perception that Scottish Child Payment has been well promoted. People find out about it through a range of sources, including paid advertising, social media, and word of mouth (e.g. family and friends, support organisations). However, third sector representatives feel that promotions could be improved by more targeted use of social media and by conducting yearly promotional campaigns.
• People from across Scotland with a wide range of personal and demographic characteristics have applied for Scottish Child Payment.
• The most recent estimates suggest that, as of June 2021, the majority of people who were eligible for Scottish Child Payment had taken the benefit up. However, almost 1 in 4 eligible people had not taken it up.
• Most people find the Scottish Child Payment application form easy and quick to complete, and generally find applying for Scottish Child Payment to be a positive experience.
• A large majority of Scottish Child Payment applicants feel well treated by Social Security Scotland, and report positive interactions with staff. However, of those who come into contact with staff, around 1 in 3 would like to be informed about other benefits or additional forms of support when making an application, but are not.
• Most people feel that their Scottish Child Payment application is processed in a reasonable amount of time, and recipients feel that payments are made efficiently. However, since September 2021, application processing times have been increasing, and a minority of clients feel that communications from Social Security Scotland could be better when waiting for an application decision.

Progress towards short-term outcomes

• Scottish Child Payment is used by parents and carers to buy a range of items for children (e.g. essential goods, treats, and toys) that they otherwise could not have afforded. This suggests the payment has led to an overall increase in child-related spend.
• Scottish Child Payment has helped to reduce pressure on household finances. Some rely on it for essential items such as bills and food. Others do not rely on it for essentials, but could not afford day trips or certain treats for their children without the payment. However, while Scottish Child Payment is helpful, finances are still challenging for recipients, and they feel its impact has been limited by rises in the cost of living.
• Having Scottish Child Payment has reduced financial stress for families, and provided some with a general peace of mind.
• Scottish Child Payment has enabled children to participate in days out and regular activities such as parent and toddler groups, which parents otherwise would have struggled to afford.
• A limited amount of evidence suggests that Scottish Child Payment has given the main carers of children more financial independence than they had previously.

Progress towards medium-term outcomes

Medium-term outcomes cannot be fully evaluated until (a) more time has passed since Scottish Child Payment was implemented and (b) more robust quantitative data has been obtained. However, the following summary can be made based on existing evidence:

• Parents and carers who rely on the payment for essential household costs feel strongly they would get into debt without the money. This suggests Scottish Child Payment has contributed to reduced incidence of debt.
• Some recipients rely on Scottish Child Payment for essential costs such as food and bills. This suggests that the benefit may have contributed to reduced incidence of material deprivation for children and families.
• Parents and carers report a wide range of health and wellbeing benefits for themselves and their children as a result of having Scottish Child Payment. This testimony indicates that the benefit has contributed to improved health and wellbeing outcomes.
• A limited amount of evidence indicates that Scottish Child Payment reduces parents’ barriers to education and the labour market e.g. by funding transport to job interviews or work.
• Evidence of increased spend amongst recipients would suggest that Scottish Child Payment has had positive impacts on the Scottish economy. However, there is little evidence to suggest it has encouraged people to shop locally.

This summary shows that positive progress has been made against immediate and short-term Scottish Child Payment outcomes. There are also indications that positive steps have been made towards its medium-term outcomes. In combination, it can be reasonably assumed that Scottish Child Payment is making some contribution towards the Scottish Government’s long-term aims for children and families.

However, the evaluation has also highlighted that there are some outstanding issues with the benefit. Implications are discussed in the conclusion chapter below.