Help with the Cost of Living

Carer Support Payment

Carer Support Payment became available across Scotland from November 2024. This benefit replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

If you get Carer's Allowance and live in Scotland, you do not need to apply for Carer Support Payment. Your benefit will move to Carer Support Payment. This will happen between February 2024 and spring 2025.

Carer Support Payment is money you can get 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

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

These are sometimes called 'qualifying benefits'.

You can get paid £81.90 a week if you’re eligible. Carer Support Payment is normally paid every 4 weeks.

You cannot get Carer Support Payment and Carer's Allowance at the same time.

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.

Changes to allow more young carers in education to access Carer Support Payment have been in force since June. Carers aged 16 to 19 in full-time ‘non advanced’ education can be eligible if they have certain exceptional circumstances - including if they have no support from parents or are responsible for a child or young person. Non-advanced education includes school and college courses such as National Certificates, Highers and Advanced Highers.

If you or the person you care for have a terminal illness

A terminal illness is an illness or condition which cannot be cured and is likely to lead to someone's death. It's sometimes called a life-limiting illness.

You can get paid Carer Support Payment every week in advance if you or the person you care for have a terminal illness and already get another benefit through the special rules for people who have a terminal illness.

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.

help to apply

If you require help to apply, contact the Welfare Support Team on 0800 090 1004 or email welfare.support@highland.gov.uk

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