Carer Support Payment: island communities impact assessment

Assessment

Through our process of engagement, we identified potential issues affecting carers in islands and remote rural areas. These included a lack of local providers, reduced availability of services, and the increased transport costs of accessing those services, as well as potential difficulties for people trying to access online information in areas of poor digital connectivity (which may be more likely in island and remote rural areas). Stigma, accessibility, and the higher cost of living were all identified as possible barriers for island and remote rural carers.

Our engagement identified support for policy proposals that are likely to benefit island communities and communities living in remote rural areas.

Alongside other Scottish Government initiatives for carers, the evidence gathered in this ICIA suggests that Carer Support Payment and case transfer will have a positive impact on carers in remote rural and island communities. We do not believe that it will have a negative impact on island communities.