THE Scottish government has announced £90 million in housing hardship cash for the year ahead.

The funding will be allocated to councils to distribute through the discretionary housing benefit (DHP) scheme — devolved in 2017 — designed to support struggling households where other housing benefits do not meet the full costs, but increasingly being used to fill funding gaps caused by the benefit cap.

SNP housing minister Paul McLennan said: “This funding will help to bridge the gap between what people need in benefits from the UK government, and what they actually receive.

“This can be the difference between a family thriving, or a family experiencing financial hardship.”

 Satwat Rehman, of One Parent Families Scotland, welcomed the extra cash and said: “Mitigating the benefit cap is absolutely the right thing to do.

“The increased funding and improved support for families affected by the benefit cap will be greatly welcomed by the many single parents who have been pushed into further hardship by this policy.”

Insisting the benefit cap was “fair,” a UK government spokesperson said: “In recognition that some households may need additional support with housing costs, the UK government continues to provide funding for discretionary housing payments.”