CHILD poverty in Clydebank will become an even bigger problem when Universal Credit is introduced in the area later this year.

That’s the stark warning issued as West Dunbartonshire officials prepare for the rollout of the new benefit in November.

Jackie Irvine, the area’s head of children’s health care and criminal justice, said in a report to the West Dunbartonshire community planning management board that families in Clydebank could be forced to wait up to 12 weeks for their benefits.

Ms Irvine said in her report: “There will be a bit of a hiatus come November when we get Universal Credit.”

As revealed exclusively in the Post 13,000 job seekers are bracing themselves for weeks of poverty when changes to the benefits system are made in West Dunbartonshire later this year.

Ms Irvine told the board of the implications of the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act 2017 and local arrangements to ensure delivery of the new legislation.

Health boards will report annually to West Dunbartonshire Council on the activity they are taking, and will take, to reduce child poverty in the area.

West Dunbartonshire Council has set a clear agenda for tackling, reporting and measuring child poverty, with four statutory income-based targets to be met by 2030.

The council aims by that time to have less than 10 per cent of children living in households that are in relative poverty; less than 5 per cent of children in households that are in absolute poverty; less than 5 per cent of children households that are in combined low income and material deprivation; and less than 5 per cent of children in households that are in persistent poverty.

Ms Irvine said: “While the targets set require to be delivered by 2030, interim measures have been put in place for delivery by 2023.”

WDC’s Working4U – with an input from health and social care, education, housing and employability – will develop local plans to tackle child poverty in the area and to report regularly to the board.

Ms Irvine added: “The financial imperative of the Child Poverty Bill places a duty on the local authority to improve the financial circumstances of families with children and pregnant mothers in a variety of ways.

“This is likely to be more successful if this is actioned and progressed through the structure of the local community planning structures in a coordinated manner. Without these collaborative inputs there will be a missed opportunity to consider integrated approaches that will contribute positively to alleviating child poverty.”

Board member Superintendent Brian Gibson, told the meeting on Thursday: "It’s not without a challenge. There is a lot of work to be done as it is work in progress.

“Much of the hard work has been put in place.”