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Scotland's elderly must not lose out in benefit revamp
14/01/2010
Scotland must be consulted on plans to stop benefits for the country's elderly.
The UK government proposes to stop Attendance Allowance and Disability Allowance and use the money to pay for the provision of local authority care.
150,000 elderly people in Scotland receive Attendance Allowance to spend on looking after themselves day or night. A further 330,000 receive Disability Allowance for help pay towards the higher costs of living with disability.
These are tax-free benefits for people who need help to look after themselves because they are physically disabled or mentally ill.
Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil, said:
"Enabling people to live independently in their own homes, for as long as possible, is a priority for this government.
"Nearly half a million elderly people in Scotland depend on these benefits to allow them to do that.
"The UK government should resist riding roughshod over Scottish opinion whilst meddling with the benefits system, shifting money from the pockets of elderly people into state run care.
"A number of key Scottish organisations representing elderly people and people with disabilities have voiced alarm at this policy, and this government shares those concerns.
"I urge Parliament to do all it can to ensure the UK government consults the Scottish Government on these flawed proposals and that our voice is listened to."