Question reference: S5W-34653
- Asked by: Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 19 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 1 February 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the role played by unpaid carers during the COVID-19 pandemic, whether it will consider providing a "thank you" bonus through a Carer's Allowance top-up.
Answer
We have already topped up Carer’s Allowance in response to the coronavirus pandemic. In June 2020, we made a one-off Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement of £230.10 to 83,000 of Scotland’s carers, on some of the lowest incomes and with some of the most intense caring roles, to help recognise the extra pressures caused by the pandemic. Through Carer’s Allowance Supplement and this special payment, carers in Scotland received £690.30 more than carers south of the border last year.
We invested around £19.2 million through the Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement, bringing our total investment in carers through Carer’s Allowance, the Carer’s Allowance Supplement and the Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement to almost £350 million in 2020-21.
Throughout the pandemic we have also provided a range additional support to unpaid carers including establishing a £500,000 fund to help local carer services adapt to providing advice and emotional support remotely. We have recently announced a further investment of £750,000 in the voluntary sector Short Breaks Fund’s ‘Time to Live’ scheme. I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-34671 on 29 January 2021 for further information.
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