WIREDGOV

Payments made to survivors of abuse in care over 70.

Seventy-one payments to survivors of childhood abuse in care have been now approved, with a further 52 applications being considered.

The applicants will receive a flat-rate £10,000 payment under the Scottish Government’s scheme to provide acknowledgement for those who were abused in care in Scotland and who are terminally ill or aged 70 or over. The scheme opened two months ago.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney yesterday said:

“I am pleased that more than 70 payments have now been approved under the Advance Payment Scheme, which recognises the harm done to children who were abused while in care.

“We continue to do everything possible to help survivors and their families though our simple application process and, where appropriate, we point them to sources of care records. As a result, no-one has been refused an application due to lack of documentary evidence of being in care.”

The Scottish Government has now sent out more than 150 application packs to abuse survivors since the scheme opened on 25 April, while around 500 application packs have been downloaded from the Scottish Government’s website.

Background

Details on the Advance Payment Scheme

A dedicated free telephone support line, set up to help abuse survivors apply to the scheme, is operated by specially trained staff. The number to call is 0808 169 9740.

The Advance Payment Scheme comes ahead of planned legislation for a statutory redress scheme, which the Scottish Government intends will pass its final Parliamentary stages before March 2021.