means that carers are not seen as service users and are therefore not responsible for the cost of any service provided. The exception to this is when a carer is looking after their partner; in that situation their income may be taken into account during a financial assessment. This situation is different from that which exists in England where carers are viewed as services users in their own right and as such are liable for the cost of services provided. Yet, in many cases, it is not the carer who actually needs the service; it is the person being cared for who needs it because of their illness or disability. Controversy In 2017 the charity was named by the UK the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy as one of a number which had failed to pay its staff the national minimum wage. References External links Crossroads Caring Scotland Charities based in Scotland Organizations established in 1978 1978 establishments in Scotland