A group campaigning against social care charges levied on disabled people has welcomed a commitment to scrap the fees – but criticised the Scottish government for not saying when this will happen.

Scotland Against the Care Tax (SACT), which has pushed for support to be free for more than ten years, says there is no justification for disabled people continuing to pay more than £50m in charges for vital support every year.

Earlier this month Nicola Sturgeon re-announced an SNP commitment to scrap remaining fees for care older and disabled people receive in their homes.

These are still applied to care that was classed as ‘non-personal’ – meaning services like community alarms, meals on wheels and help with housework.

Nicola Sturgeon said: “The principle that drove us to scrap prescription charges was simple – health care services should be free and based on the care you need, not your ability to pay.

“That same principle is what drives us to abolish non-residential social care charges for people of all ages. Fundamentally, if for someone’s care they require the care services of things like meals on wheels, community wardens, lunch clubs, supported living assistance or community alarms and laundry – then they should not be charged for them.”

SACT argued the distinction between personal and non-personal care was artificial because both were essential to independent living.

The organisation had raised concerns that despite the April 2019 introduction of Frank’s Law – a new policy to extend free personal care to the under-65s – some disabled people would see very little change in their weekly bills for the support they rely on.

Local authorities currently raise just over £50m each year in charges for non-residential support.

Derek Feeley’s review of adult social care endorsed scrapping this system but said the final price tag would end up being higher because more people would use the services.

Last month local authority group COSLA and the Scottish government promised that they would develop ‘outline plans’ by the end of May to end charging for non-residential care ‘as soon as possible’ but gave no firm date.

SACT vice chair Ian Hood welcomed Nicola Sturgeon’s promise as “good news” – but added: “Unfortunately there is no date for this to happen, disabled people will have to keep on waiting year after year and in each of these years according to Derek Feeley's care review, will pay at least £50m in care charges.

“There is no need for this delay. COSLA may say there is a need to be slow to manage an increase in demand for care but they said the same thing two years ago when Free Personal Care was introduced for the under-65s and there was no such increase.  It's time to turn fine words into action.”

Read more: “Significant” cash boost for Independent Living Fund; Councils voice “grave concern” with care review; ‘Top down’ care review plans branded ‘huge mistake’

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