ALLIANCE response to the Scottish Carer’s Assistance consultation
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 23rd May 2022
The response broadly welcomes the proposals, and calls for fast tracking of changes that would widen eligibility and increase payments.
The Scottish Government have been consulting on proposals Scottish Carer’s Assistance (this link will take you away from our website), which will replace Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. The ALLIANCE welcome many of the proposals in the consultation, with our recommendations summarised as follows:
- Remove the ‘past presence test’ from eligibility criteria.
- Introduce strict limits on the circumstances in which payments will be suspended.
- Continue awards of £0 after six months in appropriate circumstances.
- Continue to pay Scottish Carer’s Assistance whilst the person who is being cared for is receiving short-term assistance.
- Consider offering the choice between receiving Carer’s Allowance Supplement at the same time as Scottish Carer’s Assistance, or in the current twice-yearly lump sump.
- Amend the proposed eligibility criteria for a Carer’s Additional Person Payment.
- Introduce the welcome proposals for future changes to Scottish Carer’s Assistance, including expanding eligibility to carers in full time education, carers working more hours, and increasing the period payments continue to be made after a bereavement, from the outset rather than a point in the future.
- Co-produce a payment for long term carers with people with lived experience and the National Carer Organisations.
In addition to our consultation response, the ALLIANCE held two engagement sessions, one to hear from carers with sensory loss, and the other carers with learning disabilities. The reports from these events have also been submitted to the Scottish Government and will inform their approach to the new payment.
You can read our response and the event reports via the links below.
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