Extra money available to many in education.
Carers in full and part-time education could be entitled to over
£4,900 a year in financial support from Social Security
Scotland.
It is estimated that there are over 30,000 students at college or
university in Scotland providing unpaid care for a family member,
friend or neighbour. Research from Carers Trust Scotland shows
student carers are four times more likely to drop out of their
studies with a key reason being financial struggles.
Together, Carer Support Payment and Carer's Allowance Supplement
could provide over £4,900 a year to unpaid carers.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland,
which was delivered by the UK's Department for Work and Pensions
(DWP). Unlike its predecessor, Carer Support Payment is available
to many student carers in full-time education.
Carer's Allowance Supplement, only available in Scotland, is paid
twice a year to people receiving Carer Support Payment or Carer's
Allowance.
Students aged 16, 17 or 18 may be able to get Young Carer Grant
if they aren't eligible for Carer Support Payment.
Speaking to student carers and staff at Edinburgh College today
(Wednesday 19 March), Social Justice Secretary, , said:
“We worked with carers and support organisations in designing
Carer Support Payment to ensure it worked better for the people
who receive it. Extending Carer Support Payment to more carers in
education is an example of doing just that.
“I recognise the challenges many students face juggling their
studies with caring responsibilities and hope the increased
support available provides additional financial security and
helps them to complete their course.”
Anna Vogt, Assistant Principal Student Experience at Edinburgh
College said:
“We are committed to supporting our student carers to be able to
come to Edinburgh College and achieve their educational
ambitions. We do this by individualising support for carers,
engaging with carer organisations in our region and by designing
systems that acknowledge our students have responsibilities and
communities outside of college.
“Colleges change lives and we are pleased that this new benefit
will support more carers to think about becoming a student at any
institution across Scotland.”
Josh, a student at Edinburgh College, added: “The support from
Edinburgh College has made a real difference to me and is very
different from the support I received at school. It has been
particularly helpful to be linked up with my local carer's
association – I didn't know about them. Now I know about this new
benefit, I'm going to explore a bit more about it.”
Background
The £4,900 a year calculation is based on a carer receiving a
full year entitlement for Carer Support Payment (52 weeks) and
Carer's Allowance Supplement (a payment in June and then in
December) at the 2025-26 rates coming into effect from 1 April
2025.
Carers Trust Scotland
works to transform the lives of unpaid carers. They estimate
there are more than 30,000 students with caring responsibilities
in Scotland. Student research report https://carers.org/downloads/resources-pdfs/young-adult-carers-at-college-and-university.pdf
Carer Support
Payment is a payment of £81.90 a week (increasing to £83.30
from 1 April 2025) and is available to carers who are aged 16 or
over and who provide unpaid care for 35 hours or more a week to
someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit. Carers
need to earn £151 a week (increasing to £196 a week from 1 April
2025) or less after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses.
Carers in education who may be eligible include:
- Part time students - those who spend less than 21 hours a
week in class or doing coursework for any course
- Students aged 20 and over and who study full time for any
course
- Students aged 16-19, who study full time in advanced
education at university or for a college course such as a Higher
National Certificate or Higher National Diploma
- There are also some circumstances where students aged 16-19
studying over 21 hours a week in non-advanced education, such as
studying for National Certificates and Scottish Highers, may also
be eligible if they meet certain criteria. Find out more
at If you study -
mygov.scot
Carer's Allowance
Supplement is an extra payment for eligible unpaid carers who
are getting Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on two
qualifying dates. The payment is made twice a year and is unique
to Scotland. Each payment of Carer's Allowance Supplement is
£288.60 (increasing to £293.50 from 1 April 2025). It is paid
automatically without the need to apply.
Young Carer Grant is
available for carers aged 16, 17 or 18 who provide support for an
average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving a qualifying
disability benefit. It is a yearly payment of £383.75 (increasing
to £390.25 from 1 April 2025) and the money can be spent on
whatever the young person wants.
Information on other support for carers, such as financial
support, wellbeing support and short breaks from caring, can be
found at Help if you're a carer -
mygov.scot
