The Scottish Government identifies a number of families who are particularly at risk at child poverty, this includes;

• Single Parent families
• Families with an adult or child with Health Condition/Disability
• Families with a child under 1 year old
• Minority ethnic families
• Larger families, defined as having 3 or more children
• Families where the mother is under 25 years old

CABs in the past year have helped 7,264 families in these priority groups unlock £23.7 million in financial gains.

In 242 cases, CABs helped those families write off over £2.8m worth of debt. On average families who saw a financial gain and debt write off were over £11,000 better off.

CAS is releasing the figures ahead of First Minister Humza Yousaf’s anti-poverty summit today. It also follows data showing March 2023 was a record breaking month for advice demand.

Two examples of how CABs have unlocked money for at risk families include a single mother of four children, aged 10, 7, 3 and 1 in Lanarkshire. She had recently separated from her husband and been made unemployed. The CAB conducted a benefit check and found that the client may be eligible for a range of payments such as Universal Credit and full Council Tax Reduction. The adviser also recommended applying for the Scottish Child Payment and Best Start Grant for her youngest child, as well as the school clothing grant. The client’s potential financial gain is £13,816.98.

Also in Lanarkshire, a recently widowed father of three children, who is registered blind, received £28,031.12 in gains following advice from his local CAB.

Commenting ahead of the summit, Citizens Advice Scotland chief executive Derek Mitchell said: “It is welcome that the First Minister has made the eradication of poverty the central mission of his government. It is unacceptable in 2023 that parents are having to choose between heating their homes and feeding their children.

“CABs can play a key role in helping deliver a Scotland free from poverty. The results advisers get for communities across the country are simply staggering. We see cases where struggling families are thousands of pounds better off after seeking advice. That is life changing money.

“Even during this cost of living crisis, it can be difficult for people to admit to themselves that they are struggling to keep their heads above water. CAB advisers get that. They don’t judge, they just help. Our advice is free, impartial and confidential and it is for everyone, whether they are in work or not. The sooner people worried about money seek advice, the better their potential outcomes are.”