The Health Secretary in the Scottish Government Shona Robison is seeking urgent assurances there will be no cuts to disability benefits for people set to benefit from ‘Frank’s Law’ before these are transferred to the Scottish Government.

Former Dundee United footballer Frank Kopel died recently from the onset of early dementia. He  battled to get free personal care regardless of age , a cause that was continued by his widow Amanda.

Shona Robison has written to David Gauke, the Secretary for State for Work and Pensions in the UK Government, to ensure there is no repeat of the welfare cuts imposed when Free Personal Care was introduced in 2002, which has resulted in the Scottish Government spending an additional £600m to mitigate against those benefits being withdrawn.

In her Shona Robison letter Shona Robison said:

“I am writing to seek an absolute assurance from the UK Government that when Free Personal Care is extended to under 65s, that there will be no reduction in the level of benefits received by those self funders in residential care in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)  and Personal Independence Payments (PIPS) before these benefits transfer to the Scottish Government”

Shona Robison and Amanda Kopel (photo Scot Gov)