Carers Allowance – Briefing Paper

Recent policy and legislative developments have provided the opportunity to make changes to carer benefits.

The Scotland Act 2016 was passed in March 2016 and it included devolution of a range of social security powers, including carer and disability benefits.

In addition The Scottish National Party have appointed a Minister for Social Security, who will take forward the government’s plans for a new social security system. The First Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing Carers Allowance in Scotland in her first statement of priorities.

The National Carer Organisations have made several recommendations on how carers’ benefits could be altered, and this paper summarises these recommendations as well as the context for change.  You can download a copy of the briefing paper here copy