CONSTANCE WELCOMES DEATH-IN-SERVICE BENEFITS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ALL CARE WORKERS

CONSTANCE WELCOMES DEATH-IN-SERVICE BENEFITS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ALL CARE WORKERS

Following previous calls from Angela Constance MSP for all care workers in Scotland to have access to the same death in service benefits as recently introduced for NHS workers in Scotland and announced for health and social care workers in England and Wales, the Almond Valley MSP has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government that a one-off payment of £60,000 will be given to a named survivor of all social care workers who die without death in service cover in their contracted pension arrangements. 

Ms Constance initially raised the issue at First Minister Questions in Holyrood earlier in May 2020,  highlighting the plight of the partner and family of Mick Gallagher a 34 year old agency care worker from West Lothian who tragically lost his life to Coronavirus.  The Scottish Government has introduced a Life Assurance Scheme for NHS workers who lose their lives to Coronavirus and the UK Government announced a scheme for both Health and Social Care workers.

 Angela Constance MSP said - 

"Losing a loved one is always hard but more so at this time.  There  is a debt of gratitude that we all owe to all carers and the Health Secretary’s welcome announcement at the weekend pays tribute to those Carers who have tragically lost their lives to coronavirus and the families they leave behind.  The Scottish Government will make a  one payment to a named survivor where there is no death in service cover.  No amount of money will ever make up for the loss of a loved one but it is only right and proper that there is assistance for families left behind to cover the costs of a funeral and to help them cope with the financial crises that can occur when there is a death in the family."

Press release here from Scottish Government - 

https://news.gov.scot/news/supporting-scotlands-social-care-workers

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