If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the winter payment for 2021 will increase by £231.40 to a total of £462.80.
The Scottish Government have introduced new legislation that would double this winter’s Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment. It will also give Ministers the ability to increase payments in future without the need for further legislation.
If passed by the Scottish Parliament, the payment due in December 2021 will be doubled to a total of £462.80. Carers who are receiving Carer’s Allowance on the 11th of October will be automatically eligible for the increased Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment. A letter from Social Security Scotland will be sent to all eligible recipients.
The Carer’s Allowance Supplement was initially introduced in 2018. A double payment was also made in December 2020. According to Ben Macpherson, the Minister for Social Security, the higher payments are intended to recognise the hard work of unpaid carers through the particularly challenging period of the pandemic, stating that:
“Unpaid carers provide essential support to family, friends and neighbours. Their roles have been even more important during the pandemic, with many taking on additional tasks and facing higher costs of looking after people staying at home to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Scottish Government is grateful to all carers for their dedication during this most difficult of times.”