Social care personal assistants £500 'thank you' bonus

An online portal has been launched for social care personal assistants so they can receive a £500 thank you payment.

The Scottish Government said the portal would be the “most effective, streamlined way” to reach staff.

A paper-based application form is also available for those who prefer it, the Government added.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon last year announced the move to give NHS staff and social care workers the one-off payment as recognition for their hard working during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The personal assistant workforce is the last remaining group for health and social care workers to receive the payment.

Personal assistants will receive a pro rata payment of up to a maximum of £500, depending on the number of hours they work in an average week.

Social care minister Kevin Stewart said: “The importance of personal assistants within the wider social care workforce has only been made more visible during the pandemic.

“Along with the rest of our health and social care workers, they deserve the thanks of the whole country.

“Personal assistants and their employers are a unique part of the social care setting, and we are committing to making access to the thank you payments as simple as possible.

“We have worked with disability lead organisations and payroll providers for personal assistant employers to ensure that payments are made as quickly as possible to this complex and geographically diverse workforce.

“I am delighted that this new portal will now enable us to ensure this key group of workers can apply for the thank you payment they well deserve.”