Carer support payment to be rolled out across whole of Scotland after pilot

Scottish carers are being urged to apply for a new payment that is set to be rolled out across the country.

Carer support payment, the replacement for carer’s allowance, will be available nationwide from Monday, November 4.

It comes after it was successfully piloted in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Fife, Moray and North, East and South Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, Dundee City, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Angus and North and South Lanarkshire.

Residents in 19 additional local authority areas, including Glasgow and Edinburgh, will be able to apply in the final stage of the benefit’s introduction.

Administered by Social Security Scotland, the new benefit is worth £81.90 per week – or £327.60 every four weeks – for those providing 35 hours of care to a family member, friend, or neighbour.

Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: “Unpaid carers make a vital contribution to our communities, and it’s important they don’t miss out on the financial support they’re entitled to.

“Often, people don’t see themselves as carers because they view their role as just helping a family member or friend, not realising that these tasks are part of formal caregiving.

“Others may have gradually taken on a caring role as the person they support’s condition has slowly worsened.

“We urge anyone who might be eligible to check if they can apply, including full-time students who are not eligible for Carer’s Allowance.

“Help is available for anyone who feels worried or confused. At Advice Direct Scotland, we offer a wide range of free services to everyone in Scotland, regardless of personal circumstances.”

Advice Direct Scotland is also highlighting recent rule changes that expand eligibility to include more student carers.

Unlike carer’s allowance, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), carer support payment is available to some carers in full-time education, including full-time students aged 20 or over and students under 20 who are in advanced or higher education.

In June, eligibility was extended to carers aged 16 to 19 in non-advanced education who meet specific criteria, for example, not having any parental support.

The Scottish Government said new backdating rules mean that some carers – mostly full-time students – who live in the new areas can apply to have their benefit payments backdated to when carer support payment was introduced.

Carers in Scotland who already get a carer’s allowance will have their award automatically transferred to carer support payment.

To receive the payments, they need to apply within 13 weeks of the benefit becoming available in their area.