A charity is pressing for changes to Moray Council’s response to the coronavirus pandemic amid claims some vulnerable people have been “forgotten about” until now.
Guidance was issued by the Scottish Government in May to encourage recipients of self-directed support (SDS) benefits to be “pro-actively” contacted to use the money differently.
The payments are given to those with disabilities to provide extra help at home or assistance getting out and about.
Families were expected to be contacted to be told the money could be used in different ways during the lockdown due to Covid-19 concerns, including to buy IT equipment to access online services or to pay a family member instead of a personal assistant.
However, Glyn Morris, chief executive of charity Friendly Access, which campaigns for disabled barriers to be removed, says he was not notified about the option until August.
The campaigner, whose son Gregor receives SDS, has now submitted a 97-strong petition to Moray Council as part of a consultation being run by the authority about its Covid-19 recovery plan to ensure the needs of the most vulnerable are being considered alongside the rest of the population.
He said: “SDS is an example that has set the alarm bells ringing that planning for vulnerable people is being treated as a secondary priority. We think the needs of everyone need to be considered together.
“Many people have been extremely worried in isolation due to shielding and lost all their support – then to be totally forgotten about.
“We don’t think the recovery plan is reasonable. This petition will ensure that we are not forgotten and not invisible.”
Last year Moray had 221 people and 31 unpaid carers receiving direct SDS payments.
In a June report, council officers explained its aim for the recovery plan was to focus on an “inclusive society” to support vulnerable people with a focus on children.
However, they added that before they could tackle “such broad objectives” they would need to address the “most immediate and significant” of the health, social and economic impacts from the pandemic.
Yesterday a Moray Council spokeswoman explained the petition would be considered alongside other responses to the consultation.
She said: “All submissions to the corporate recovery plan consultation will be considered following its closure on September 25 and key issues identified thereafter.”