3,720 CARERS BENEFIT FROM DEVOLVED WELFARE POWERS
Thousands of carers in Renfrewshire South have benefitted from new Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) payments of up to £442 introduced by the Scottish Government.
New figures show that 1,830 payments have been made to carers in East Renfrewshire and 5,030 have been made in Renfrewshire, totalling £404,000 and £1,112,000 respectively.
The Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment made to carers in Scotland twice a year, in recognition of the important contribution they make.
Carers will now get two supplementary payments totalling £442 per year, equivalent to an extra £8.50 per week, which is a 13% increase on the Carer’s Allowance from the UK Government.
SNP MSP Tom Arthur, who was the first MSP to join the Carer Positive Employer Initiative and is Co-convenor of the CPG on Carers at the Scottish Parliament, said:
“Last year, the Carer’s Allowance Supplement helped 83,000 carers across Scotland, including 990 in East Renfrewshire and 2,730 in Renfrewshire.
“Carers make an absolutely vital contribution to our society, and it’s only appropriate that they’re duly valued and properly supported.
“The SNP is determined to use the powers available to the Scottish Government to improve the lives of people across Scotland.
“This supplementary payment allows the Scottish Government to get more money into the pockets of carers, as quickly as possible.
“I am delighted that carers in East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire are being recognised for the important contribution carers make, and the hard work they do in what can often be difficult circumstances.”
Most recent ISD figures available here.