Unpaid student carers urged to check eligibility for payments worth up to £4,200

Unpaid carers in education have been encouraged to check if they are entitled to financial support from the Scottish Government.

Social Security Scotland estimates there are around 35,000 unpaid carers attending university or college in Scotland.

But it said many do not recognise themselves as carers and could be missing out on cash.

There are three payments delivered by Social Security Scotland that could help student carers during their studies.

The Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland and is worth £81.90 a week for eligible Scots – totalling more than £4,200 a year.

The Young Carer Grant is available to 16 to 18-year-olds and could be worth up to £383.75 a year.

The Carer’s Allowance Supplement is only available in Scotland and carers can claim £288.60 twice a year.

Louise Reid, a student support adviser at the University of the West of Scotland, urged students to check if they are eligible.

She said: “Students, alongside wider society, are consistently pushed to the limit financially from sources outside their control. The cost of housing, energy and food have all been consistently high and this hits student carers particularly hard.

“As caring responsibilities can limit or completely reduce any capacity for part-time work to top up existing student funding, additional financial resources are vital.

“Carer Support Payment is an invaluable financial resource that can make the difference between continuing with studies or not. Being able to claim this benefit whilst studying really makes such a difference to students who provide care.”

Students can find out more about Social Security Scotland payments for carers by visiting mygov.scot/carers or calling 0800 182 2222.