Thousands more unpaid carers in Scotland will be eligible for a
new benefit, if regulations laid this week in the Scottish
Parliament are approved.
Carer Support Payment is the replacement for Carer's Allowance in
Scotland. It was first launched in November 2023 in three pilot
areas, Perth & Kinross, Dundee City and Na h-Eileanan Siar
(Western Isles).
It will be available in 10 new local authority areas this summer
as part of the next phase of the roll-out, starting with North
and South Lanarkshire and Angus on 24 June. From August it will
extend to Fife, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and North, East
and South Ayrshire and be available in the rest of Scotland in
November.
Eligible carers who live in areas where Carer Support Payment is
not yet available are still being urged to still apply for
Carer's Allowance to make sure they don't miss out on
support.
Since it launched Carer Support Payment, unlike Carer's
Allowance, is also available to carers aged 16-19 in full-time
“advanced” education and carers aged over 20 in full-time
education at any level.
These regulations will see eligibility further extended to some
16-19-year-old carers in full-time “non-advanced” education, such
as school, from 24 June.
Social Justice Secretary
said:
“Unpaid carers provide a huge amount of physical, mental and
emotional support. The work they do is invaluable, both to the
people they care for and to Scottish society as a whole.
“I am therefore delighted we are ready to roll-out the next phase
of Carer Support Payment, allowing thousands more unpaid carers
to get the benefit
“This is particularly important for those who aren't eligible for
Carer's Allowance, but are eligible for Carer Support Payment,
including many full-time students.
“Having spoken to carers in the pilot areas, I know Carer Support
Payment is not only providing financial support to students who
couldn't get it before, but it's allowing carers to study
full-time who never thought this would be possible.
“I urge anyone who lives in an area where Carer Support Payment
is available to apply for it as soon as possible.”
Background
-
The Carer's Assistance
(Carer Support Payment) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2024
(legislation.gov.uk)
- Carer Support Payment is being rolled out in stages. It is
currently available in three pilot areas, Perth & Kinross,
Dundee City and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles).From 24 June
it will extend to North and South Lanarkshire and Angus and from
19 August it will be available in Fife, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire,
Moray, and North, East and South Ayrshire. Carer Support Payment
will be available across Scotland from 04 November.
- The new regulations also now include special backdating
rules. This means that carers who are not getting Carer's
Allowance but are eligible for Carer Support Payment can have
their payments backdated to the date Carer Support Payment first
became available. This stops carers missing out on money they are
entitled to because they live in an area included in the later
phases of the rollout.
- The main group to benefit will be carers aged 16-19 in
full-time “advanced” education (such as university), and carers
aged over 20 in full-time education at any level.
- To get their fully backdated payments, carers must apply
within 13 weeks of the benefit becoming available in their
area.
- Carers in Scotland who get Carer's Allowance will have their
award automatically transferred to Carer Support
Payment.
- The amount they receive will not change. Social Security
Scotland will write to people in advance to let them know that
their award will be moving.
- Transfers began in February this year, with all awards
expected to be moved by Spring 2025.
