Social Care Staff Support Fund launched in Scotland to provide financial support to care workers facing income losses as a result of coronavirus

New statutory instrument includes eligibility conditions for payments from new Fund, including that workers must have lost income as a result of being ill with COVID-19 or while self-isolating

New regulations have been issued that make provision for the establishment, maintenance and administration of a Social Care Staff Support Fund in Scotland.

In force from 24 June 2020, the Social Care Staff Support Fund (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (SSI.No.188/2020) include provisions that establish the Fund (under powers conferred by the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No.2) Act 2020) that ensure that eligible social care workers do not experience financial hardship as a result of being ill with coronavirus or needing to self-isolate in line with Scottish NHS guidance.

In particular, the regulations set out eligibility conditions for workers to access the Fund -

• their ability to undertake contracted health and care work is or has been, restricted for a reason relating to coronavirus;
• their income is, or has been, reduced as a result of that restriction;
• they are or were (a) unable to attend work as a result of having coronavirus; or (b) self-isolating in accordance with relevant public health guidance; and
• they would experience or are experiencing financial hardship.

In addition, the regulations -

• make provision for the categories of worker who can qualify for payments from the Fund, defined by section 47 of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 as those working for a support service, a care home service, an offender accommodation service, or a housing support service; and
• specify that the amount to be paid is the difference between the person's expected income from health and care work in respect of a period of entitlement, and their actual income from health and care work (including any sick pay) in respect of that period.

SSI.No.188/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk