Give the extra money to Scotland’s NHS

Erin Schepers, 28, lives with a flatmate in Dundee. She is currently signed off work due to medical reasons and claims benefits, but volunteers at local projects. She previously worked for a mental health charity.

She said: “I am currently unable to work as I am undergoing medical treatment, but in my previous job, I was selfemployed and before that, I was on statutory sick pay, so I am well aware of how difficult it is if you do need to take time off. The help they are offering today to people surrounding sick pay is good, although statutory sick pay is very low, hardly more than benefits.

“I think the fact that, in this budget, they are doing it so that it kicks in from day one rather than waiting a week will make a big difference for some people.

“However, the idea of getting access to benefits if you are self-employed would be difficult, as it takes weeks to get benefits set up, so for most people, they will be better and back to work before it kicks in.

“I don’t drive, so the fuel duty freeze will have little effect for me and I don’t really drink a great deal either, so any duty freeze isn’t likely to make a big difference to me. “The one thing that will make a difference is the so-called ‘tampon tax’. It is so expensive for women every month and it’s not like we have a choice. I can’t believe there was ever a tax on sanitary products.

“I would say I spend around £20 a month on sanitary products so it will make quite a big difference to not have to pay the tax on those.

“I would like to see the £640m that this Budget gives to Scotland to be put into the NHS.

“Apart from the current coronavirus outbreak which will be hard for the NHS in the interim, I have seen the shortages with my own medical situation. Also, money needs to be put into things like keeping community centres open. When I worked in mental health, people were always telling me about cuts in their community and that was a big problem for them, and ultimately means a bigger burden on the NHS as people struggle when there are constant cuts.

“It is always a Catch 22 about how you spend money in a situation like this.”