Highland families to benefit from further school clothing grant increase

30th August 2016

Parents and carers of primary and secondary school children who are eligible to claim for assistance with school clothing for their children are to benefit from an 11% increase in the grant being made available by The Highland Council.

Members of the Highland Council's Resources Committee have agreed to increase the amount of school clothing grant per pupil to £90 for all applications received from 1 April 2016 for the 2016/17 academic year. Last session (2015/16) the Highland Council paid the joint fourth highest rate (£81) in Scotland.

Chairman of the Resources Committee, Councillor Bill Fernie said: "The Highland Council is fully committed to tackling inequality for all residents and has a number of measures in place to proactively reduce poverty.

“This 11% grant increase makes the cost of school uniforms more affordable for many families and will be implemented immediately. Those families who have already received their grant for this academic year will be automatically issued with the £9.00 increase using the same payment method as they selected for their original grant payment.

“I urge all families that may be entitled to this grant, that haven’t already done so, to apply without delay using the intuitive on-line application form on our website or by completing the paper form which is available by phoning the Council’s Operations Team on 01463 703545."

Scottish local authorities are required to make provisions for the clothing of pupils who would otherwise be unable to take full advantage of the education provided at schools. This responsibility includes setting the criteria for allocating grants, for deciding on the grant amount and for the application process. Payment levels across Scotland’s local authorities vary significantly.

In Highland, assistance with school clothing can be claimed if you are in receipt of any one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance
• Any income related element of Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit, but not in receipt of Working Tax Credit, and your income is less than £16,010 (as assessed by HMRC)
• Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit and an income below £6,420 (as assessed by HMRC)
• If you are 16 to 18 years old and receive any of these benefits in your own right then you can claim for yourself
• If you are an asylum seeker receiving support
• Universal Credit