Our Response To The Scottish Budget

The Scottish Budget announcement is a step in the right direction, but this news has left much to be desired for disabled people and their families, as key demands from the #DisabledPeopleDemandJustice campaign remain unmet. At Inclusion Scotland, we have analysed the Budget and share our response with our peers and supporters. 

Alarmingly, Funding for Advice has been reduced across all areas. The ‘Social Security Advice, Policy & Programme’ budget will drop from £226 million in 2024-25 to £178 million in 2025-26, a reduction that could severely impact disabled people seeking support with complex benefits systems and other challenges. 

While many gaps remain, we welcome several announcements in the budget: 

• The announcement of the £2.5 million Disability Equalities Plan in the Scottish Budget 2024/2025 is a step towards addressing the challenges faced by disabled people and other marginalised communities. We hope that the voices of disabled people will help shape how this funding is allocated and used effectively to build a more inclusive society. Together, we can make equality a reality. 
• The £25m investment in social care support which we hope goes directly to where it is needed, in improvements to the delivery of social care supports, meeting people’s outcomes. Inclusion Scotland recognise the need for further investment to remove social care charges, which are a tax on disabled people who need support and would also like to see transparency of spend of this budget, as we know that funding for social care support has not always gone to social care support. 
• Scotland’s decision to mitigate the harmful two-child cap is welcomed. This is a vital step in addressing poverty and ensuring children in disabled households are no longer unfairly penalised by this policy.  For too long, the two-child cap has disproportionately impacted disabled families, pushing children deeper into poverty. Families with a disabled member are more likely to be in poverty. This is particularly true for families where an adult is disabled. By removing this barrier, Scotland is demonstrating its commitment to tackling inequality and prioritising the needs of its most vulnerable. We continue to push for policies that centre disabled people and their families, ensuring no child is left behind. 
• We are overjoyed at the continuing commitment to the Independent Living Fund (ILF). The ILF has always been a lifeline, enabling disabled people to live with dignity, choice, and control over their own lives. Our hope is that this lifeline continues to support independent living for disabled people. 
• The much-needed relief provided by the additional £5 million to support the voluntary sector in delivering short breaks for unpaid carers is welcomed. Unpaid carers are vital to disabled people and this funding is a step towards recognising their immense contribution.  This must come with choice, control, dignity and respect for supported people who should also have their preferences for short break cover, or short breaks for themselves, met as far as possible. 

The Scottish Budget must deliver for disabled people and address the systemic barriers we face. Disabled people’s needs and aspirations must be mainstreamed in every policy area, ensuring resources are allocated to end inequality. 

Our campaign #DisabledPeopleDemandJustice continues to push for meaningful change, ensuring that resources such as the Disability Equalities Plan are used to tackle inequalities and empower disabled people across Scotland. We continue to work towards a clear funding framework for DPOs and the third sector and the abolition of social care charges to ensure equitable access. 

Our Message to the Scottish Government is that now is the time for action, not just promises. The upcoming Disability Action Plan must deliver transformative change, ensuring that we disabled people are at the centre of every decision and resource allocation. Together, we can work towards a Scotland where disabled people and their families thrive without facing poverty, exclusion, or disadvantage.