We welcome many of the changes introduced by today’s Budget, particularly the decision to abolish the two-child benefit cap from April 2026. In Scotland this single measure will release an estimated £155 million a year that the Scottish Government had been spending to mitigate the cap through the Scottish Child Payment. We hope that that money can now be redirected to further strengthen the Payment or to invest in other vital anti-poverty measures. For the thousands of families our member advisers see every week (many pushed into debt simply because they had a third or subsequent child) this change will be transformative. It removes one of the harshest cliffs in the benefits system and will give thousands of children a fairer start in life. 

We also hope that increased funding allocations to Scotland promised by the budget will enable the expansion of preventative support frameworks. We would like to see these funds spent on enhancing the provision of free money and debt advice services, strengthening the Scottish Welfare Fund, and delivering targeted interventions in communities disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis. These investments are essential to reduce financial vulnerability and build long-term resilience. 

We also welcome the increases in remote gambling duties. Gambling-related harm remains a hidden but significant driver of debt across Scotland, and higher taxes on the most addictive online products, alongside the existing operator levy, should both discourage harmful play and generate revenue that can be directed towards treatment and prevention services. This is a positive step toward reducing the social and financial impact of gambling harm. 

Despite these welcome measures, demand for free, independent money and debt advice remains at record levels. Many households continue to struggle with essentials, clear existing debts, and build any financial buffer against future shocks. It is essential that both the UK and Scottish Governments build on today’s announcements through continued investment in advice services, stronger protections for those in problem debt, and further action to tackle the root causes of financial insecurity.  

We note that maintaining the freezing of income tax bands will have an impact on working people across England and Wales. We await the Scottish budget in January to see what changes, if any, will be made to Scottish income tax rates. 

Today marks meaningful progress. We look forward to working with both governments to make sure it is only the start.