In 2021, the SNP Government supported nearly 82,000 carers across North Ayrshire and Scotland with a total of £57.6 million in Carer’s Allowance Supplement.
Over 658,000 payments have been made to more than 126,000 individual carers since this additional payment, which only Scotland has in the UK, was introduced by the SNP Government in September 2018.
In total, £188 million has been paid to carers since launch and just under 82,000 eligible carers received a payment in December 2021.
Recognising the impacts of the pandemic on unpaid carers, these payments included an additional Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment, making the total December payment value £462.80.
There are two Carer's Allowance Supplement eligibility dates each year - one in April and one in October. The eligibility dates for 2022 will be Monday 11 April 2022 and Monday 10 October 2022.
Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be uprated from April 2022. The new Carer’s Allowance Supplement rate for 2022 will be £237.90
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“I am proud that the SNP Government values the vital contributions unpaid carers make and instead of just praise, provides tangible support on top of what they would receive elsewhere in the UK.
"Eligible carers in Scotland received up to £694.20 more in support last year than carers in the rest of the UK. It’s hard to understand that neither the Tories in England nor Labour in Wales seem to have the political will to replicate this.
“Providing this supplementary payment rights the wrong that Carer’s Allowance, which itself is set by the UK Government, the lowest of all working age benefits in the UK. People don’t choose for their loved ones and for themselves to be in this situation.
“The impacts of the pandemic put additional pressure on tens of thousands of carers across the country. That is why on top of the supplement, the SNP Government also paid an additional Coronavirus Carer’s Allowance Supplement Payment in 2020 and 2021.
Full details on the figures are available to view here.
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