The Welsh Conservatives’ Shadow Minister for Social Care - Janet Finch-Saunders MS - has today (8 July) urged the Welsh Government to bring an end to the period of ‘dither and delay’ and clarify when the promised £500 bonus for social care staff will be received.
The payment was announced on the 1 May but has yet to be received by care staff. At the time, the Welsh Government claimed that the payment would be available to some 64,600 care home workers and domiciliary care workers throughout Wales.
Speaking of the delay to the bonus payment, Janet said:
“The Welsh Government must urgently provide a date for when their promised £500 bonus will be paid to our brilliant social care staff and bring an end to this period of dither and delay.
“Our carers have been waiting for this money as a direct result of a questionable oversight by the First Minister. He should come forward and apologise for failing to contact HMRC in order to clarify whether the bonus would affect any benefits prior to making his rushed announcement.
“I have long campaigned for this payment as it recognises the incredible and selfless dedication of our nation’s care workers who continue to dedicate themselves to caring for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“The Welsh Health Minister should now look at broadening the payment’s eligibility criteria to ensure that our community hospice staff also receive the reward they rightly deserve."
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