Scotland’s Social Care and Mental Wellbeing Minister has given the go-ahead to begin work to deliver the next steps needed for the reopening of the Independent Living Fund.

All recommendations from an expert working group on how the fund – set to open to new applicants later this year – should operate have been accepted in full.

The ILF provides additional funds to disabled people to support them to live independently but has been closed to new applicants since 2010.

After years of campaigning from disabled people’s organisations (DPOs), Scotland’s First Minister announced that the Fund would see a phased reopening to new applicants, with an initial £9m in 2024/25.

The Fund is to re-open on largely the same basis as it operates at present, with the maximum award of £330 a week to be considered ‘additional and complementary’ to any statutory funding provided by a person’s local authority.

Local authority practitioners will complete applications on behalf of eligible applicants – who will need to be aged over 16 and receive at least £800 of social care support from their council – which will then be assessed by Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland.

Peter Scott OBE, Chief Executive Officer at ILF Scotland, said ministerial approval marks a “significant step” for the ILF as it moves closer to its phased reopening:

“We understand the significance of the decision to re-open the fund to enable disabled people to access the support they need, and deserve, to overcome the barriers to independent living which they face every day.

“We have spent a lot of time listening to disabled people, their organisations and other key stakeholders through the co-production process.

“Our objective was to ensure that the recommendations made by the co-production working group provided the best opportunity to maximise the impact of the re-opened fund for those who need it the most.”

A co-production working group – made up of representatives from DPOs, carers, providers and local authorities – was established to inform government on how the reopened Fund should operate.

It will now support ministers in making improvements to the Fund in 2024/25 and beyond.

The development of a citizen-led application route, the inclusion of an unpaid care component, and amendments or alternatives to the financial support threshold will all be considered.

Minister for social care and mental wellbeing, Maree Todd MSP said she is pleased to accept all the initial recommendations of the group and is looking forward to working with them in 2024 and 2025.

“The working group highlighted in their report that they welcomed the fast pace that was set by the First Minister’s commitment to re-open the Fund this year, but that the design of the Fund could be improved with more time to work.

“I understand their position and would like to accept the working group’s offer to continue working to prepare recommendations on the further evolution of the re-opened Fund after its first year open.

“I would like to thank the members of the working group for giving their time, energy and expertise over the last six months.

“I know the work has been challenging, but it will play a significant role in improving the ability of disabled people to live independently in the years ahead.”

Read more: ILF: “We stand ready to reopen”; “Significant” cash boost for Independent Living Fund; Holyrood committee fails to back Transitions Bill; Voices of disabled key to policy development; Carers in ‘devastating' financial hardship; Holyrood scrutinises self-directed support 10 years on

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.