As part of the Coronavirus (No.2) Bill, legislation which will go before the Scottish Parliament on 13 May, the SNP Government will propose an additional £230.10 payment which will benefit around 83,000 unpaid carers across Scotland, including 2,765 in North Ayrshire.
This £19.2 million investment in Carer’s Allowance Supplement is in recognition of the additional pressure carers are under as a result of the ongoing pandemic.
If approved by Parliament next week, eligible carers will be awarded the extra one-off payment through a special Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement in June.
As with the current supplement, this extra payment will be paid automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
It will ensure that carers receive an additional £690.30 this year on top of their Carer’s Allowance and any other income. This supplement is not paid in the rest of the UK.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP said:
“We introduced the Carer’s Allowance Supplement to recognise the important contribution unpaid carers play in our society. They provide vital support to family, friends and neighbours. Our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus will see many carers experience additional pressures, particularly financial.
“This additional payment is an acknowledgement that we appreciate what carers are doing even more right now and we thank them for it.”
Kenneth Gibson MSP added:
“While I can’t imagine anyone not being in favour of this extra payment during these particularly trying times, we do need MSPs from other parties to vote with us on this.
“This one-off payment will benefit carers on low incomes who already have intense caring roles, providing at least 35 hours unpaid care weekly to a disabled child or adult in receipt of higher level disability benefits.
“I am delighted that carers in North Ayrshire and across Scotland are being recognised by the SNP Government for the important contribution they make to our communities in very difficult circumstances.”
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