Members' Business: Life After Death, Supporting Carers After Bereavement

That the Parliament welcomes the Marie Curie, Reform Scotland and Sue Ryder report, Life After Death: supporting carers after bereavement; notes that it calls for more recognition of the impact of death on the carer and the effect on the carer’s physical and mental health, their relationships, ability to work and finances; understands that over 15,000 people have died of all conditions during the COVID-19 epidemic in Scotland, leaving behind a significant number of bereaved people; notes the report’s key recommendations for future policy and legislation, including a new Carers (Bereavement Support) (Scotland) Bill early in the next parliamentary session to provide information and a plan to support carers following the end of their caring role, a new fund to support training and education for carers returning to work/seeking employment, a new post-caring support payment to help carers experiencing financial problems following the end of their caring role, and to extend eligibility for the Carer’s Allowance and Carer’s Allowance Supplement for up to six months after the person’s caring role comes to an end from the current eight weeks; recognises that 78,870 people were claiming Carer’s Allowance before the pandemic struck, including 12,044 in Central Scotland; notes the calls for the Scottish Government to consider these recommendations, and thanks Scotland’s carers for all that they do to support terminally ill people and those at end of life.