Health and Social Care in Scotland
Information Guides
Health and Social Care in Scotland:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Council Help for Disabled People
Scottish councils have responsibilities to help disabled people and their carers who qualify for help. These include:
- Financial help
- Care needs assessments for disabled people
- Providing support for carers
- Blue Badges
- Safeguarding people who are at risk of harm
Financial help
Councils are responsible for providing financial help, including:
- Housing benefit – help with rent for people over State Pension age and for some younger people in special circumstances Claim Housing Benefit – mygov.scot
- Means-tested and non means-tested help with council tax costs Working out your council tax – mygov.scot
- Lump sum payments from the Scottish Welfare Fund; Crisis Grants (usually food, energy, or heating) or Community Care Grants to help people stay in, or settle into the community. https://www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund
Social work departments have powers to help with “Section 12” payments, for adults or children in an emergency if this would save the council costs in future. They can also make payments to promote the welfare of children in need.
Councils must also have a Housing “scheme of assistance” that may give information, advice, grants, loans, and practical assistance to homeowners or, to private tenants who need disability adaptations. https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/housing_conditions/scheme_of_assistance
Most council areas will have a Care and Repair service that will provide advice and help to older people and (in some areas) disabled people who are homeowners or private tenants. Find your local service here Office Locations | Care and Repair Scotland
Care needs assessments for disabled people
If you are disabled, your council’s social work department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) can assess your care needs, and agree a care plan to support you. The help you receive may include equipment, adaptations to your home, care at home, day care or a care home. Any help you receive that is classed as “personal care” is free.
You should be offered a choice in how your care is provided; this is called Self-directed support. Your options within your budget form the council are:
- 1 – a direct payment to you or someone else (such as a care agency) to pay for your own support
- 2 – you arrange the support
- 3 – the local council arranges the support
- 4 – a mix of the above
Support for carers
The Carers (Scotland) Act gives carers a right to support from their local council. A carer is anyone who is not paid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour who is disabled. You do not have to be caring for a specific number of hours to be a carer.
Your local Carers Centre can explain what help is available locally. Any help a carer received from their local council is free. Find your local Carers Centre here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/carer-centres/ and find out more about carers rights here https://www.careinfoscotland.scot/topics/support-for-carers/
Blue Badges
A Blue Badges provides parking concessions for on-street parking, some car parks, and disabled parking bays, allowing badge holders to park close to where they need to go
A Blue Badge belongs to a person, not a vehicle, so they can travel as a driver or a passenger. Find out more about Blue Badges here: https://www.mygov.scot/apply-blue-badge/eligibility
Protecting people who are at risk of harm
Councils have powers under the Adult Support and Protection (Scotland) Act 2007 to protect adults who cannot look after their own safety and security and are at risk of harm because of disability, mental disorder, illness, physical or mental infirmity, sexual harm or institutional harm.
“Harm” means injury or damage and includes self-harm, neglect and abuse.
Councils and other public services (such as Police) will work together to support people. You can find out more here https://www.gov.scot/policies/social-care/adult-support-and-protection/
If you are worried that someone at risk of harm, you can find your local social work department here
Contact your council
You can find details of your council and its services here Organisations – mygov.scot
How can I get care or disability equipment at home?
If you need care, support or equipment at home, the first step is to contact your local council’s Social Work Department (or in Highland, NHS Highland) and ask for a Care needs assessment. You might qualify for an adaptation, equipment, care at home, or a budget you can use to arrange your own care. If you have a carer, they have a separate right to support from the council too. If the help you need counts as “free personal or nursing care” it will be free.
Health and Social Care in Scotland:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| AAT (GB) Ltd | Description of service and products sold: Provide solutions for climbing stairs using powered stair climbers and stair climbing equipment, as well as evacuation and help with disabled access issue. They can also provide information on the Disability Di… |
| ABC Hearing | Services provided: Providing hearing consultations to people with hearing problems and the supply suitable hearing aids to those that need them. These service can be carried out at ABC premises, or at the client’s own home throughout Edinburgh, the Bor… |
| Aberdeen City Council RADAR key provision | Local Authority providing RADAR keys |
| Abilia Ltd | Description of service: – Text-to-speech communication aids – Digital recording communication aids – Environmental control equipment – Cognitive products. Equipment hire: Will hire out equipment. Opening hours: Monday – Friday, 9.00am – 5.00pm. |
| Ability Lifts | Ability Lifts were formed in 2004 with the goal of providing access products for those with mobility impairments. |
| Ability Shetland | Ability Shetland is a charity which provides direct support to children, families and adults with disabilities and additional support needs. Responding to identified needs, we run groups and clubs and outreach support to individuals. We help people wit… |
| Able Access | Able Access, a Glasgow‑based service specialising in home adaptations, accessibility improvements, and independent‑living solutions for individuals with mobility challenges, long‑term health conditions, or age‑related needs to make homes safer, more ac… |
| Able Community Care Ltd | Able Community Care was one of the first Live-in Care providers, est. in 1980. We support people throughout the UK and have been offering support in Scotland and the offshore islands for over three decades. We often operate where other care providers d… |
| Able Deen | Loan of mobility equipment, safe space, signposting |
| Ableworld Mobility & Stairlifts Broxburn | Ableworld Broxburn is a trusted provider of mobility and independence solutions, operating as part of one of the UK’s largest mobility retailers. The store stocks an extensive inventory of over 1,400 products designed to support independent living, inc… |
