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Charity Carers Scotland has welcomed a rise to the earnings limit which will see more unpaid carers eligible to receive Carer Support Payment.

From the 7th of April, unpaid carers who provide at least 35 hours of care each week will be able to earn up to £2,340 more per year in paid employment and remain eligible for the payment.

Carers Scotland says the increase – the largest in 40 years – will provide extra financial security to unpaid carers living on a low income, who will now be able to work the equivalent of 16 hours at the National Living Wage.

Full details here Carer support payment extended

Yesterday, the UK Government announced reforms to health and disability benefits. This included some significant changes to Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Many of the proposed changes to PIP are not due to take effect until after April 2026, by which time it’s expected that everyone on PIP in Scotland will have transferred to Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Scottish Government have stated that they will not be considering similar reforms to the ADP in Scotland.

Although the reforms to PIP may not affect disabled people in Scotland directly, there are still concerns that if the UK Government cuts spending on PIP then the amount of funding provided to the Scottish Government through the block grant adjustment (BGA) falls by a similar proportion.

It is not clear yet how the Scottish Government will address any shortfall in the social security budget for next year.

To find out more about how the proposed changes to PIP may affect those in Scotland: https://www.carersnet.org/disability-benefit-reforms…/

This year the theme is ‘Caring About Equality’ highlighting the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health. Far too often, carers of all-ages miss out on opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role. Get involved in Carers Week 2025, and together let’s work towards an equal society, where carers are truly valued, recognised and supported.

Carers week takes place from 9th to 15th June

Last week, the Minister for Social Care – Maree Todd outlined the next steps for the National Care Service Bill to the Scottish Parliament.

In summary, the plan to introduce a National Care Board and Local Care Boards will no longer go ahead. Instead, the Scottish Government will introduce a new non-statutory advisory board comprising of people with lived experience of accessing care, social care workers, care providers, trade unions, the NHS and local government. This new advisory board will provide guidance on social care improvement in Scotland, but we don’t have any further details about the specific remit of the group or how the board members will be appointed.

Other provisions such as the Right to Breaks for Carers and Anne’s Law will still be included in the amended National Care Service Bill.

Full statement here

Strategic Plan for unpaid carers sets out new vision for living well in the Scottish Borders | Scottish Borders Council

The Health and Social Care Partnership’s strategic plan for unpaid carers, as approved by the Integration Joint Board earlier in the year, has now been published.

Supporting unpaid carers by getting services right for the cared for person is a strategic objective identified in the Partnership’s Strategic Framework 2023-2026.

Living Well in the Scottish Borders – A Plan for Adult Unpaid Carers 2024-28 (Living Well) sets out a clear vision and approach on how the Partnership aims to meet this objective over the next four years by, for example, focusing on carer identification and recognition and the provision of information, advice and communication for carers.

Living Well was created in partnership with the Borders Carers Centre and Unpaid Carers in the Scottish Borders and was informed by the Carers Needs Assessment, carried out in 2022.

Lynn Gallacher, Chief Executive Officer at Borders Carers Centre

“The Carers Centre, along with unpaid carers, has had a key role in the development of Living Well which we hope will be a positive step forward in ensuring that unpaid carers living in our area feel recognised, informed, valued and well supported, with the right support at the right time not only for themselves but also for those they are caring for.”

Chris Myers, Chief Officer of the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership

“Living Well is a brilliant step in helping us better support unpaid carers in the Scottish Borders. The input of unpaid carers in this plan has been essential in creating a vision of a Scottish Borders, which recognises and listens to carers as our partners. Their contribution has also helped us identify clear steps to take in our plan, to improve how we work and help ensure that all unpaid carers and the people they care for can live their lives to the full.”

Living Well is available to download at: www.scotborders.gov.uk/livingwell2024-28

To find out more about support currently available for unpaid carers, visit: www.scotborders.gov.uk/carers

Local carers have enjoyed getting together to share lunch and their experiences of 2024 at a series of Christmas lunches across the region. Huge thanks our funders for making local carers Christmas lunch possible.

When asked what this meant to them, carers said:

“It means an awful lot. To be in a relaxed, undemanding place. Being normal with fellow carers for a couple of hours and to be able to enjoy a Christmas treat.”

“It means the world to me to be able to celebrate Christmas with other carers.  I can be myself and feel fully understood and supported by other carers.  It’s an invaluable experience.”

This week, the Scottish Government presented their draft budget for 2025/26 to the Scottish Parliament.

We welcome the announcement that the Scottish Government are committed to matching the UK Government by raising the earnings threshold for Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance to £196, which means carers can earn an extra £45 a week whilst receiving these benefits.

If these proposals in the draft Scottish Budget are accepted by the Scottish Parliament then the changes to the earnings threshold will come into effect from April 2025.

The Family Fund provide a wide range of grants to families living in Scotland raising a disabled, or seriously ill, child or young person on a low income.

Their Scotland grant programme could help eligible families with essential grant items including kitchen appliances, bedding and furniture, computers and tablets, family breaks, sensory toys or outdoor play equipment.

Apply here

Along with the other National Carer Organisations in Scotland The Coalition have put together a statement expressing disappointment at the delay.

We are urging all parties in the Scottish Parliament to work together on a solution that puts disabled people and unpaid carers at the heart of any future reform of social care.

To read our statement in full: https://www.carersnet.org/national-carer-organisations…/