THE Scottish Government will pay out an extra £19.2 million to unpaid carers as a thank-you for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The move should see around 83,000 Scots who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance get a special one-off payment of £230.10 next month.
It was announced after more than 30 organisations in Scotland penned an open letter calling on ministers at both Holyrood and Westminster to do more to reduce the "intolerable pressure" being endured by carers.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon told carers must be at heart of plan to ease lockdown
Oxfam Scotland, one of those groups, said the additional money is a "welcome step".
However the charity's head, Jamie Livingstone, said: "Many carers, particularly women who deliver most care, were already trapped in poverty before coronavirus and they are telling us that they're facing rising bills for things like food and other essentials.
"Carers have been undervalued for too long, and while this extra payment is a welcome step, we must properly value the work of all carers now, and for good."
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the cash boost will be included in forthcoming Scottish Government legislation aimed at tackling the virus.
She said: "We introduced the Carer's Allowance Supplement to recognise the important contribution unpaid carers play in our society. They provide vital support to family, friends and neighbours.
"Our collective efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus will see many of these carers experiencing additional pressures, particularly financial, right now.
"The 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 would be an acknowledgement to carers that we know that they are doing even more right now, and we thank you."
As well as Oxfam Scotland, the open letter to ministers was also signed by groups including Carers Scotland, the Scottish Women's Budget Group, One Parent Families Scotland, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Poverty Alliance, the Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Unison.
Carers Scotland said its research shows eight out of 10 unpaid carers are having to shell out more to put food on the table and meet their bills during the coronavirus pandemic.
A survey issued alongside the letter found two-thirds of Scots (66%) believe care workers are paid too little, with 62% saying care work is not valued highly enough by the Scottish Government.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here