Treating carer’s allowance claimants in Scotland as engaged in caring during temporary breaks due to coronavirus

New statutory instrument

New regulations have been issued in relation to treating carer's allowance claimants in Scotland as engaged in caring during temporary breaks due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

In force from 3 April 2020, the Carer’s Allowance (Coronavirus) (Breaks in Care) (Scotland) Regulations 2020 (SSI.No.117/2020) make a temporary adjustment to entitlement rules to carer’s allowance to allow carers to retain their entitlement if they have a temporary break in caring as a result of isolation due to, or infection or contamination with, coronavirus of either the carer or the person cared for.

The regulations also disapply the normal requirement to have provided care over a certain number of weeks in order to continue to qualify for carer’s allowance during a break in care (under regulation 4(2) of of the Social Security (Invalid Care Allowance) Regulations 1976).

NB - the adjustment will cease to have effect eight months after the regulations come into force.

SSI.No.117/2020 is available from legislation.gov.uk