Funds for disabled care

Disabled people will receive financial help

Disabled Scots are to be given direct payments from local authorities to help pay for their care.

Until now, services like household help or holidays were provided by the councils.

The new system is contained in the Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act, which comes into force on Saturday.

Deputy Health Minister Tom McCabe said the Scottish Executive was making £650,000 available over the next three years to make people aware of the rule changes.

He said: "Direct payments offer disabled people the flexibility to choose the kind of services that suit them, whether that be a full time personal assistant, a place in a day care centre, or a couple of hours a week help with household tasks.

"That is why as part of the Act we extended the scope of direct payments so that all disabled people can benefit from them, no matter where they live in Scotland."

The payments will be available to all disabled people aged 16 and over who arrange their own community care.

From 1 April next year, the scheme will be extended to other community care clients, including the elderly.