SNP ministers have asked to study the full “financial implications” of topping up carer’s allowance by £600 a year before putting their manifesto promise to do so into effect.
Newly released minutes show Social Security Angela Constance asked her Westminster counterparts in February for time to study the cost and timing of implementing the policy.
However increasing carer’s allowance to the same rate as jobseeker’s allowance remained a “key priority” for the Scottish Government, she said.
Scottish Labour yesterday urged the SNP to set out it plans to hike Carer’s Allowance, which is now claimed by 69,848 Scots compared to 48,300 in 2010.
Those qualifying must give at least 35 hours of care a week to a person on disability benefit.
All the Holyrood parties have promised to increase the benefit from £62.70 a week to match the £73.10 of Jobseeker’s Allowance, with the Greens advocating £93.15 per week.
Depending on how the change is applied, the Scottish Parliament has calculated the additional cost to the Scottish Budget could be between £38m and £443m a year.
However carers save Scottish society an estimated £10.8bn a year.
The devolution of welfare powers is overseen by the Joint Ministerial Working Group on Welfare, which brings together UK and Scottish government officials in thrash out details.
The minutes of the October meeting show Ms Constance asked the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to conduct a three-month feasibility study into the DWP delivering increased carer’s allowance on behalf of the Scottish Government.
DWP officials offered two possible solutions to paying Scottish carers extra, each of which would need further “detailed work” to come good, plus an implementation time from the SNP.
The minutes of the February group paraphrase Ms Constance as saying: “A response will be sent to the feasibility study, once the Scottish Government has had an opportunity to assess in full the implications, including the financial and timing implications.”
The change is expected to take place later in this parliament.
Scottish Labour social security spokesman Neil Bibby said the SNP had had the power to top-up benefits since last September, and needed to “get a move on” over Carer’s Allowance.
He said: “Carers are the unsung heroes of our country. Thousands of people dedicate their lives to caring for others and save the government - particularly our NHS and social care system - billions of pounds because of their selfless care and attention.
“The new powers over social security give us a chance to build a truly fairer Scotland - but we need to move past warm words and onto real action.”
Social Security Minister Jeane Freeman said: “Increasing carer’s allowance to the same level as jobseekers allowance is one of the key commitments we have made for our new powers.
“We are working hard to identify how we can introduce an increase as quickly as possible, including working with DWP on how they could take this policy forward on our behalf.
“The complex process for the safe and secure transfer of powers is long established and unchanged and it is misleading to suggest otherwise.
“We cannot deliver devolved benefits until we have the powers transferred, the legislation scrutinised and agreed by the Scottish Parliament, and the delivery infrastructure in place.
“Carers and young carers play a crucial role our society and it is vitally important we support them in looking after the people they care for, which can often be in very challenging circumstances. We will do this through our clear and repeated commitment to a social security system where everyone is treated with fairness, dignity and respect.”
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