For immediate release:

6000 SOUTH LANARKSHIRE CARERS TO RECEIVE EXTRA PAYMENT

Around 5,745 carers across South Lanarkshire are due to benefit from a one-off payment during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Scottish Government has revealed plans to invest £19.2 million to provide further support to Scottish carers. If approved by Parliament, around 83,000 eligible carers across Scotland will get an extra £230.10 through a special one-off Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement in June.

This would mean that carers in Scotland will receive an additional £690.30 this year on top of their Carer’s Allowance and any other income.

The extra payment – which is not paid in the rest of the UK – will be made automatically to people in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

Commenting, Clare Haughey MSP said:

“Carers in Rutherglen and Cambuslang make an absolutely vital contribution to our society, and it’s only appropriate that their hard work is valued, and they are properly supported by the Scottish Government.

“This one-off 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 will be an acknowledgement to carers that we know they are providing vital support to family, friends and neighbours, and playing an absolutely crucial role in our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus.”

ENDS

Notes:

Table 3a: Number of Carer’s Allowance Supplement payments – by Local Authority 2019/20.

Local Authority1	April eligibility
Aberdeen City	1,640
Aberdeenshire	2,130
Angus	1,560
Argyll & Bute	1,065
City of Edinburgh	4,735
Clackmannanshire	925
Dumfries & Galloway	2,505
Dundee City	2,615
East Ayrshire	2,445
East Dunbartonshire	1,075
East Lothian	1,240
East Renfrewshire	990
Falkirk	2,540
Fife	6,080
Glasgow City	13,215
Highland	2,885
Inverclyde	1,590
Midlothian	1,350
Moray	995
Na h-Eileanan Siar	255
North Ayrshire	2,765
North Lanarkshire	6,865
Orkney Islands	205
Perth & Kinross	1,700
Renfrewshire	2,680
Scottish Borders	1,275
Shetland Islands	150
South Ayrshire	1,810
South Lanarkshire	5,745
Stirling	1,090
West Dunbartonshire	1,780
West Lothian	2,840
Unknown	150

Date Published: 7th May 2020