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Publication - Impact assessment

Equality Impact Assessment – Reopening Of The Independent Living Fund (ILF)

Published
14 February 2025
From
Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport
Directorate
Social Care and National Care Service Development
Topic
Health and social care
ISBN
9781836912095

The Equality Impact Assessment for the reopening of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) sets out the policy and its impacts.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Stage 3: Assessing the impacts and identifying opportunities to promote equality

Having considered the data and evidence you have gathered, this section requires you to consider the potential impacts – negative and positive – that your policy might have on each of the protected characteristics. It is important to remember the duty is also a positive one – that we must explore whether the policy offers the opportunity to promote equality and/or foster good relations.

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their age?

Age Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation Positive The policy is for people aged 16 and above with no upper age limit. The reopened fund design removes a previous upper age limit, expanding access and eliminating an unwarranted discrimination, however excludes people under the age of 16. Children under the age of 16 were not eligible for the fund when it was previously open. This lower age limit has been retained for reasons set out in section 4.
Advancing equality of opportunity Positive The policy is for people aged 16 and above with no upper age limit. The reopened fund design removes a previous upper age limit, expanding access and eliminating an unwarranted discrimination, however excludes people under the age of 16. Children under the age of 16 were not eligible for the fund when it was previously open. This lower age limit has been retained for reasons set out in section 4.
Promoting good relations among and between different age groups Positive The policy is for people aged 16 and above with no upper age limit. The reopened fund design removes a previous upper age limit, expanding access and eliminating an unwarranted discrimination, however excludes people under the age of 16. Children under the age of 16 were not eligible for the fund when it was previously open. This lower age limit has been retained for reasons set out in section 4.

Do you think that the policy impacts disabled people?

Disability Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation Positive

The policy aims to support disabled people with high support needs, providing up to 1,000 new recipients the ability to exercise greater choice and control over the care and support they receive, so that they can be better supported in their homes and within their local communities.

There is however the potential for the policy to have an indirect negative impact on people who are disabled but do not meet the access principles for the fund.
Advancing equality of opportunity Positive

The policy aims to support disabled people with high support needs, providing up to 1,000 new recipients the ability to exercise greater choice and control over the care and support they receive, so that they can be better supported in their homes and within their local communities.

There is however the potential for the policy to have an indirect negative impact on people who are disabled but do not meet the access principles for the fund.
Promoting good relations among and between disabled and non-disabled people Positive

The policy aims to support disabled people with high support needs, providing up to 1,000 new recipients the ability to exercise greater choice and control over the care and support they receive, so that they can be better supported in their homes and within their local communities.

There is however the potential for the policy to have an indirect negative impact on people who are disabled but do not meet the access principles for the fund.

Do you think that the policy impacts on men and women in different ways?

Sex Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good relations between men and women None identified N/A

Do you think that the policy impacts on women because of pregnancy and maternity?

Pregnancy and Maternity Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good relations None identified N/A

Do you think your policy impacts on people proposing to undergo, undergoing, or who have undergone a process for the purpose of reassigning their sex? (NB: the Equality Act 2010 uses the term ‘transsexual people’ but ‘trans people’ is more commonly used)

Gender reassignment Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good relations None identified N/A

Do you think that the policy impacts on people because of their sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good relations None identified N/A

Do you think the policy impacts on people on the grounds of their race?

Race Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good race relations None identified N/A

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their religion or belief?

Religion or belief Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A
Advancing equality of opportunity None identified N/A
Promoting good relations None identified N/A

Do you think the policy impacts on people because of their marriage or civil partnership?

Marriage and Civil Partnership[2] Impact Reasons for your decision
Eliminating unlawful discrimination None identified N/A

Contact

Email: steven.hanlon@gov.scot

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