Newsflash: Social Care Worker Death in Service Scheme

The Scottish Government would like to express their sincere condolences to those who have lost a family member, friend or colleague during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, dedicated social care workers have provided critical and invaluable support to individuals across Scotland. In recognition of the vital contribution of social care workers, on 30 July 2020 Scottish Ministers published details of the social care worker death in service payment scheme.  

The scheme provides a one-off payment of £60,000 to dependents or the next of kin of a social care worker who has died in service as a result of, or the suspected result of, contracting Covid-19 at work. This payment is independent of any life assurance cover that may have been provided by an employer or through a pension scheme.

The scheme is open to survivors of staff who worked in a social care setting, regardless of their role or length of service.

The scheme will make payments for eligible claims in respect of coronavirus related deaths occurring between 17 March 2020 and 30 June 2022. Claims can be submitted until 30 June 2023.

The Scottish Government encourage anyone who thinks they may be entitled to this payment to submit an application.

Applications to the scheme are made by employers, if you know a survivor of a social care worker who has died in service, please can you share this communication with them.

Full guidance on the scheme and information on the application process can be found on the Scottish Government website at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-social-care-worker-death-in-service-payment/pages/overview/  .

To raise awareness of the scheme, please can we encourage you to share this communication with your own networks. If you would like further information on the scheme, please contact the team at SocialCareDiS@gov.scot