Carer Support Payment is now available to claim nationwide. across Scotland. (Image: Getty Images)

New devolved payment replaces claims for Carer’s Allowance for people across Scotland

by · Daily Record

A new benefit for people in Scotland providing unpaid care is now available to claim nationwide following the successful completion of a staggered rollout across several council areas since November last year. Carer Support Payment is the fourteenth benefit to be introduced by the Scottish Government and is worth £81.90 per week, some £327.60 every month.

The national rollout from Monday, November 4 means that people living north of the border can no longer make a new claim to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for Carer’s Allowance and should instead, apply for Carer Support Payment through Social Security Scotland. The transfer of existing Carer’s Allowance claimants to the new payment began in February this year and is due to be completed by next Spring.

Carer Support Payment is available to those providing 35 or more hours of unpaid care each week to someone who gets disability benefits such as Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Child Disability Payment (CDP), Pension Age Disability Payment or Attendance Allowance.

However, unlike Carer’s Allowance, Carer Support Payment is available to some carers in education. This includes 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 16-19 in non-advanced education. This includes those studying for National Certificates, Highers and Advanced Highers, who meet certain criteria, for example, not having any parental support.

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Backdated payments

As part of the roll out, new backdating rules were introduced meaning that some carers - mostly full-time students - living in the new areas such as Glasgow or Edinburgh, can apply to have their payments backdated to when Carer Support Payment was first introduced.

The backdating rules are designed to stop carers missing out on money they are entitled to because they live in an area included in the later phases of the rollout.

To get fully backdated payments under these special rules, carers should apply within 13 weeks of the benefit becoming available in their area. The deadline for carers living in the new areas - Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Edinburgh, Falkirk, Glasgow, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Orkney Islands, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, Shetland Islands, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian, is February 2, 2025.

The deadline for carers living in the areas where the benefit opened in August - Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Fife, Moray and North, East and South Ayrshire - is November 17, 2024.

Carers may still be able to get fully backdated support after these deadlines if they have a good reason for missing the deadline.

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Commenting on the nationwide rollout of the new payment, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “The importance of the role of unpaid carers should not be underestimated. Their work is vital to the people they look after and to society as a whole.

“I am delighted that Carer Support Payment is now available in every local authority in Scotland. Many students will now be able to get this financial support for the first time, thanks to changes made by the Scottish Government.

“I urge anyone who thinks they might be eligible to find out more.”

According to Carers Trust Scotland, it is estimated that there are around 35,000 unpaid carers attending college or university in Scotland. Paul Traynor, Head of External Affairs at Carers Trust Scotland, welcomes the national roll out.

He said: “The immense contribution of unpaid carers to society cannot be understated, providing vital caring roles to their family and friends, and helping to hold society together.

“Over 100,000 unpaid carers in Scotland are living in poverty and we hear all too often of the financial pressures of juggling studying and caring, where supplementing their income through employment is extremely challenging or not possible. Research highlights that student carers can be up to four times more likely to drop out of college or university and financial struggles are often one of the key reasons for this.

“The national roll out of Carer Support Payment will help make a significant difference to many carers’ lives and support more student carers to remain and succeed in education.”

Financial help for people in Scotland

Who can claim Carer Support Payment?

You cannot claim Carer Support Payment and Carer’s Allowance. You can claim the devolved payment from Social Security Scotland if you provide care for someone and meet certain eligibility criteria.

You must:

  • be 16 or over
  • usually live in Scotland
  • provide care for 35 hours or more a week, this includes if you provide care all day every day
  • not earn more than £151 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

Benefits the person you care for gets

To be eligible for Carer Support Payment, you must provide care for someone who gets one of these disability benefits:

  • Adult Disability Payment – daily living component
  • Child Disability Payment – middle or highest care rate
  • Pension Age Disability Payment
  • Attendance Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
  • Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest care rate
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at or above normal maximum rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
  • Armed Forces Independence Payment

If you get Carer Support Payment, it will not affect the qualifying benefit the person you care for gets. But it could affect other benefits that you and the person you care for get. If you live with a partner, it could also affect their benefits.

Full details on Carer Support including eligibility and how to claim can be found on mygov.scot here.

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