Question reference: S6O-00622
- Asked by: Evelyn Tweed, MSP for Stirling, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 22 December 2021
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Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 13 January 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide financial support and advice to people facing hardship and debt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising costs of living.
Answer
We know households are facing financial pressures and have urged the UK Government to take action, particularly on spiralling energy costs. Our £41 million Winter Support Fund is helping people meet rising living costs and we also doubled the December payment of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement which supported 91,000 unpaid carers. Our Scottish Child Payment will also double in April. We are providing £7.4 million this year to support free debt advice, including additional funding for increased demand. I would also encourage people to access our new Money Support Scotland website for debt and money advice and adverts promoting the site are running now.