Boost for carers

Carers across Scotland will receive an extra £221 this week as a new Scottish Government supplement arrives in bank accounts.

Two payments a year are being handed out by Scotland’s new social security agency.

The supplement is being introduced to meet the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase Carers Allowance to the level of Jobseekers Allowance.

Eligible carers will begin to receive letters about the supplement this week with payments beginning to be made from 13 September and throughout the month.

It is new income for carers and cannot be taken off other social security benefits, tax credits, or council tax reduction.

Simon Hodgson, director of Carers Scotland said: “We have, for many years, consistently campaigned for Carers Allowance to be increased, highlighting the unfairness that carers, whose contribution saves the Scottish economy more than £10 billion each year, receive the lowest income replacement benefit of all.

“The introduction of the new Carers Allowance Supplement will bring Carers Allowance to the level of Jobseekers Allowance, increasing eligible carers’ incomes by over £400 a year.

“We welcome this commitment of the Scottish Government to improving carers’ lives and will continue to work with them.”