SNP manifesto: what we’ll do for disabled people

The SNP 2016 manifesto sets out how we will continue our commitment to equality for disabled people and a Scotland that is fair and inclusive to all.

Here’s just some of what we’ll do.

• Through the National Entitlement Card, Scotland’s older people and disabled people will continue to be able to travel for free on local or Scottish long distance buses.

• We will strengthen financial and practical support for disabled students.

• We will make sure that the Modern Apprenticeship programme is open to all, and increase the numbers of disabled trainees included in the programme.

• A Scottish social security agency will be established with dignity and respect at its heart – the language of “shirkers” and “scroungers” will not be the language of the Scottish social security system.

• We will maintain disability benefits, not cut them and ensure they remain universal, not means tested.

• The disability benefit assessment process will be reformed to ensure it works for service users and we will set clear timescales for conducting them and making decisions.

• We will ensure a transparent and accessible appeals process for disability benefits – with guaranteed timescales for decisions.

• We’ll introduce long-term awards for existing long-term conditions that are unlikely to change, and ensure people get the right level of award as time goes on.

• We will raise the allowance paid to carers to the same level as Jobseeker’s Allowance, increasing carers’ incomes by £600 a year.

• The £52 million Scottish Independent Living Fund, which we established after the scheme was scrapped by the Tory government, will be maintained.

• We will support disabled people into employment with a £20 million fund.

• We’ll extend the eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment to families with children in receipt of the highest care component of Disability Living Allowance.

• We will abolish the 84 day-rule, which currently means that severely ill or disabled children needing more than 84 days hospitalisation or medical treatment lose both Disability Living Allowance and Carer’s Allowance.

• We will implement a new Framework for Families with Disabled Children so that our children get the right support from birth to adulthood.

• A £200,000 Elected Office Fund will be established to provide support for disabled people seeking to stand for selection and election in the 2017 local government elections.