Thousands of
disabled people in Scotland are set to be supported through a new Scottish
Independent Living Fund (SILF), Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced
last week.
The scheme will
safe-guard support given to more than 3,000 disabled people across Scotland and
will build on existing care through a £5.5 million investment which will
re-open it to new users, ensuring its long-term future.
The current UK
Government’s support scheme is due to close in June 2015 and has been
closed to new users since 2010.
The Scottish
Government’s scheme will continue to provide vital everyday assistance to
disabled people, allowing them to remain living at home and participate in
work, training and education.
Deputy First
Minister Nicola Sturgeon said:
"Everyone
should have the same freedom, choice and dignity to live independent lives at
home, at work and in the community. Today we are safe guarding that right for
the people of Scotland.
“Last year
we met with disability groups who asked that a Scottish Independent Living Fund
be re-opened to new users, while protecting the packages of existing
users.
“We were
also asked that we jointly develop the scheme with disabled people on a
national basis. We have listened to their views, which is why we are protecting
existing users and opening the fund to new users.
“The
Scottish system will be run nationally with disabled people at the heart of its
decision making.
"We are not
only protecting funding packages for existing users, but providing an extra
£5.5 million to re-open the fund to those who have not been able to
access the current care package since its closure.
“Today’s commitment from the Scottish
Government will allow new applicants in the first year to benefit from the
funding, giving them a quality of life that everyone should be entitled
to.
“There is no
doubt that people in Scotland are paying a heavy price for Westminster
decisions but we will do all we can to help. However, only in an independent
Scotland will we have the full powers we need to protect our most vulnerable
people and help them fulfil their potential in work and life.”
Notes To
Editors
Following
negotiations with the UK Government to transfer management of the current
Independent Living Fund (ILF) to the Scottish Government, a new Scottish
Independent Living Fund (SILF) will be set up to protect and enhance services
when the UK Government scheme closes in 2015.
The Scottish
Government’s SILF will come into effect in July 2015, subject to the full
allocation of funding being devolved to the Scottish Government.
Unlike England,
where the responsibility for the ILF will be devolved to local authorities, the
Scottish Government will develop a national system run by the third
sector.
The budget for
SILF will be made up of the transfer of the current funding levels alongside
the Scottish Government’s £5.5 million investment.
Individuals are
referred to the fund via local authority social services.