Children’s Mental Health Week: financial support for children and their families

During Children’s Mental Health Week we recognise the importance of early action in supporting children and young people to help improve their wellbeing and give back control and confidence.

There are different benefits that we deliver that can support children and their families dealing with their mental health. This financial support can help with caring for their child, keeping them safe and attending appointments.

Child Disability Payment is extra money to help with the costs of caring for a disabled or terminally ill child or young person. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions. This could help provide money to pay for things like buying specialist equipment or paying for taxis to get to appointments. It can also help pay for children with disabilities to take part in activities with their peers that can sometimes be more expensive to help them connect with others and improve their wellbeing. The money can also be used to pay for more specific items, like noise cancelling headphones, which can help with anxiety.

Child Winter Heating Assistance is an automatic payment of £214.10 to help the most severely disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. This could help a family to stay warm during colder months and help to ease anxiety around energy costs and children’s wellbeing.

Support is also available for young people who have caring responsibilities. A young person caring for a family member, friend or neighbour may feel isolated and struggle more with their mental health.

Young Carer Grant is an annual payment of £326.65 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more.

Leigh-Ann Love, Child Disability client adviser at Social Security Scotland, said:

“Good mental health should be a priority for each and every one of us and over the recent years so many people have been dealing with health, economic and social impacts of this challenging period.

“This is why it’s more important than ever to prioritise wellbeing and promote good mental health where possible.

“Social Security Scotland can play a pivotal role in families and children’s lives through providing financial support at a difficult time. This can help to access vital treatment and can allow families to have more control over their lives. This can help with accessing basic rights, combating social isolation and providing more freedom to afford doing the things that promote and prioritise mental wellbeing.”

To find out more about these benefits and apply online, over the phone or book an appointment to apply in-person, people can visit mygov.scot/benefits or call us free on 0800 182 2222.