Over 80,000 unpaid carers in Scotland are set to receive an extra one-off payment next month to support them through the coronavirus pandemic.
A range of measures will be published as part of the second coronavirus bill, which sets out emergency powers and measures to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.
As part of the legislation, the Scottish Government is due to invest an additional £19.2 million in Carer’s Allowance Supplement, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
This will see around 83,000 unpaid carers in Scotland receive an additional £230.10 in June to "support them through this difficult period", the First Minister has said today.
Unpaid carers, who are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance, would automatically receive the "special one-off Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement" in June.
The measure will mean that carers receive an additional £690.30 this year on top of their Carer’s Allowance - a supplement which is not paid in the rest of the UK.
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Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: "We introduced the Carer’s Allowance Supplement to recognise the important contribution unpaid carers play in our society.
"They provide vital support to family, friends and neighbours. Our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus will see many of these carers experiencing additional pressures, particularly financial, right now.
"The payment will benefit carers who are on low incomes and already have some of the most intense caring roles, providing at least 35 hours unpaid care weekly to a disabled child or adult in receipt of higher level disability benefits.
"This additional payment would be an acknowledgement to carers that we know that they are doing even more right now, and we thank you."
