Personal assistants who support people to live independently can now apply for a £500 ‘thank you’ from the Scottish Government fund.

The application process is straight forward and based on how many hours were worked.

Click on this link to access the online application which can be saved at any time if you cannot complete it in one go.:

Social Care Workforce £500 Thank You Payment – Application Portal for Personal Assistants

If you are unable to complete the form online or need information in a different language or format, please contact the PA Bonus Helpline by calling 0800 841 1321 (open 09:30 – 16:30, Monday to Friday).

The deadline for submissions is midnight on Wednesday 25th August.

Once the application is completed you will receive a confirmation email from Scotland Excel once your submission has been confirmed and passed to ILF Scotland for payment.

Kevin Stewart, Social Care Minister in the Scottish Government said:

“The importance of Personal Assistants within the wider social care workforce has only been made more visible during the pandemic. Along with the rest of our health and social care workers, they deserve the thanks of the whole country.

“Personal Assistants and their employers are a unique part of the social care setting, and we are committing to making access to the thank you payments as simple as possible.

“We have worked with disability lead organisations and payroll providers for Personal Assistant Employers to ensure that payments are made as quickly as possible to this complex and geographically diverse workforce.

“I am delighted that this new portal will now enable us to ensure this key group of workers can apply for the thank you payment they well deserve.”