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Unpaid carers to have allowance doubled in Moray


By Ewan Malcolm

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AROUND 1075 unpaid carers in Moray are set to have their allowance doubled by the Scottish Government.

Richard Lochhead MSP welcomed the Bill which passed last week. Picture: Becky Saunderson.
Richard Lochhead MSP welcomed the Bill which passed last week. Picture: Becky Saunderson.

The Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill passed its third and final stage at Holyrood. Unpaid carers in Moray and across Scotland will now receive a supplement of £462.80.

This is the second time the supplement has been doubled – the first time being in July 2020.

Richard Lochhead MSP said: "Unpaid carers in Moray have had an incredibly difficult time during the pandemic and without their heroic efforts our services would have been under greater strain.

"That is why the Scottish Government has doubled the Carer's Allowance Supplement, recognising this vital work and the difficulties that these dedicated carers will face as we head into winter.

"Unpaid carers will be facing a squeeze on incomes in the coming months with skyrocketing energy bills and food prices, so the doubling of the carers allowance supplement will provide a vital lifeline for thousands of unpaid carers in Moray and across Scotland.

"The passing of this Bill is another example of how we are building a social security system in Scotland based on dignity, fairness and respect. Contrast that with the system at Westminster which has just cut Universal Credit at a time when those on the lowest incomes need it most."

Around £21 million worth of extra investment is set to benefit 91,000 people across Scotland.

The Bill will also give Ministers powers to provide eligible carers with additional financial support in future if the need arises.

Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: "We introduced the Carer's Allowance Supplement in September 2018 to address the fact that Carers' Allowance was the lowest of all working age benefits. The £230 payment is in addition to the Carer's Allowance in recognition of the role carers play in society.

"In recognition of the additional pressures caused by the pandemic, tens of thousands of unpaid carers will now receive another additional payment of more than £230 through our Carer's Allowance Supplement this winter. This additional payment means that this year carers in Scotland will get £694.20 more in support than carers in the rest of the UK."

Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive of VOCAL which supports and empowers unpaid carers in Edinburgh, added: "As we emerge from the pandemic, the Coronavirus Carer's Allowance Supplement is a welcome measure and we are delighted that the Bill has passed. This will support carers who have faced, and continue to face, enormous challenges due to Covid-19."


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