FAMILIES eligible for expanded welfare support — described as a “watershed moment in tackling child poverty” across Scotland — are to receive their first payments this week, SNP ministers said yesterday.

The Scottish child payment scheme will apply automatically to those who already qualify for Best Start early learning and school age payments, Social Security Scotland confirmed.

The government agency said it will send a text message to recipients when they check for eligibility and then write to them to give notice of further financial support.

Some 400,000 children north of the border are now thought to be eligible for the Scottish child payment, which is open to youngsters aged under 16.

The automatic award of the Best Start payments, each of which are worth just over £250, was announced in April in order to simplify the system.

Scottish Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said that the enhanced scheme is worth an extra £25 per child per week and represents a massive rise of 150 per cent since the spring.

“Tackling child poverty is a key mission for the Scottish government,” he insisted.