Why is it fair that Scottish carers get more carers allowance than English carers?

[KindleAndCake]

With the carers supplement they get twice a year, it boils down to just over £11 a week more than English carers. They're all doing the same old slog, so why is it fair.
I am caring for 2 people, it is hard going. I only get carers for 1 though as that is how the system works. Ive just found out that Scottish carers get a supplement twice a year, lucky ducks. Well sort of, better than nowt.
So my question is, why? I thought we were one nation. Am I being unreasonable here.

Means testing.

It’s now called Adult Disability Payment up here.
I do wish they’d stop changing the names of things, I get so confused!

Lots of things are better in Scotland - free prescriptions, free university education and a much better discretionary housing payment system, to name a few.

Those complaining about free prescriptions in Scotland.... Are you aware that 95% of prescriptions are free in England because the majority of medication is dispensed to people who are exempt from charges, including those under 16, over 60, and individuals on benefits or with specific medical conditions? (This is the statistic for 2022/23 from UK government sources). Of the people who do pay, many become sicker because they don't take the prescribed medication, or ration it and so ultimately cost the NHS more. This is why Scotland and Wales don't have prescription charges - because they make no economic or social sense.

I live in Scotland and I earn £55,000.

im £1600 a year (£32 a week) worse off than a person in england earning the same.

them’s the breaks.

Same reason my son had to wait nearly two years for equipment that newly diagnosed diabetics in many areas of England can expect to walk out the hospital door with right from the start.
Different pots of money, different streams of revenue, different people in charge of said pots and streams.

Or that in England free child care hours start at 9 months now ( I think) and here in Scotland it’s 3 !!
But yes, it’s because we’re a devolved country and this is what our government has decided

But the NHS isn’t a means tested service?

@KindleAndCake Because Health and Taxation are developed matters and their Governments can make their own choices on how to direct some of the money raised.

Other things that may surprise you are:
Prescriptions are free in Scotland and Wales.
Scottish students studying at Scottish Universities do not pay tuition fees
Income tax rates are higher in Scotland.

It’s now called Adult Disability Payment up here.
I do wish they’d stop changing the names of things I get so confused!

It may be called something different but it's absolutely not a "much higher" benefit as that poster suggested.

The rates are exactly the same.

The United Kingdom is still made up of 4 different Nations! And as many others have said - that led to Devolution, with different parliaments/Assemblies who have the legal right to make their own decisions on lots of different issues.

It’s really not a better system! Pay for what you use on meters is a much fairer system and encourages people not to waste water.

No idea how it's fair.
Can you imagine the hoo ha if uni tuition and prescriptions were free in England but they had to pay in Scotland?! We'd never hear the end of it.

Oh yeah I'm up in Scotland as well, I just wasn't aware that the Adult Disability Payment was higher than PIP? And yes it does get confusing....DLA, PIP, now ADP....gets confusing!

You are free to put pressure on your politicians if it’s a policy your country has the political appetite for. Nothing stopping England from putting its own policy in place. It’s done it with lots of things.
Scotland pay for several things that people living in England don’t, they must not moan about it non stop or you would know that

Yes but you do realise that you get plenty of things that we don't get? I'm having to pay nursery fees until the age of 3 (3 and a half actually as it only kicks in in the Aug after their 3rd birthday? While friends of mine down south get their free hours at the age of 2. So that's £18k I'm paying out that I wouldn't be if I was in England.

Scotland gets a lot for free that England doesn’t.

Home care
Prescriptions
Tuition fees
etc

England is always bottom of the barrel for this kind of thing.

It’s not higher, exact same amount.

I might have missed it @KindleAndCake but do you think it’s fair that people living in Scotland pay higher rates of income tax?

Not always.

In Scotland no free childcare hours until 3 (limited at 2) whereas in England it will be 30 hours from 9 months

England can’t be at the bottom of the barrel for its own policies.
Scotland make decisions for Scotland. England makes decisions for England. It’s only England’s fault for its laws, you can’t blame anyone else.

Have you heard any hoo ha about the difference in free childcare?

Didn't think so.

Why is it fair that we have a welfare state and many other third world countries do not?

To be honest I don’t know if it’s higher or not !
Ive just had to fill in her blue badge application, it asks for her Pip points, even though we’re in Scotland and it’s not called that any more ! We’ve changed councils do I’ve had to re apply, who knows if I’ve done it right! They don’t make life easy ….

I love how you've come back to answer all the questions and make a really robust argument for your case.