Scots urged to claim new £327 monthly payment for people providing unpaid care launching next week
Unpaid carers across Scotland are being encouraged to apply for a new benefit as it becomes available to more people. National advice agency Advice Direct Scotland is urging carers to prepare for the switch to the Carer Support Payment, which is gradually replacing Carer’s Allowance as part of a phased nationwide rollout.
From Monday, November 4, residents in 19 additional local authority areas, including the two largest cities - Glasgow and Edinburgh - will be able to apply in the final stage of the benefit’s introduction. Administered by Social Security Scotland, the new benefit is worth £81.90 per week, or £327.60 every four weeks, for those providing 35 hours of care to a family member, friend, or neighbour.
Carer Support Payment will gradually replace Carer's Allowance for nearly 89,000 people already claiming the benefit, however, it’s important for existing claimants to be aware they will not be affected by the rollout and will have their current award transferred over to Social Security Scotland in stages before the end of next year - the migration process began in February.
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People transferring from Carer's Allowance to Carer Support Payment can also choose to be paid weekly instead of every four weeks.
Eligible carers who live in areas where Carer Support Payment is not yet available are being urged to still apply for Carer's Allowance from DWP to make sure they don’t miss out on financial support.
Carer Support Payment is also available to more student carers. Some 16 to 19-year-old carers in full-time ‘non-advanced’ education, such as school, are also eligible to claim the benefit.
In addition, some carers - mostly full-time students - can now have their benefit payments backdated to when Carer Support Payment was first introduced in November 2023.
Conor Forbes, policy director at Advice Direct Scotland, said: “Unpaid carers make a vital contribution to our communities, and it’s important they don’t miss out on the financial support they’re entitled to. Often, people don’t see themselves as carers because they view their role as just helping a family member or friend, not realising that these tasks are part of formal caregiving.
“Others may have gradually taken on a caring role as the person they support’s condition has slowly worsened. We urge anyone who might be eligible to check if they can apply, including full-time students who are not eligible for Carer’s Allowance.
“Help is available for anyone who feels worried or confused. At Advice Direct Scotland, we offer a wide range of free services to everyone in Scotland, regardless of personal circumstances.”
Carer Support Payment rollout timetable
Available to claim now:
Perth & Kinross
Dundee City
Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
North and South Lanarkshire
Angus
Fife
Aberdeen
Aberdeenshire
Moray
North, East and South Ayrshire
November 4 - Available across Scotland
You can also use the online postcode checker here to see if applications are open in your area.
Backdated payments
Special backdating rules for the Carer Support Payment roll out mean that carers who are not eligible for Carer’s Allowance but are eligible for Carer Support Payment can apply to have their payments backdated to the date Carer Support Payment first became available.
Social Security Scotland said 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 fully backdated payments, carers must apply within 13 weeks of the benefit becoming available in their area. For carers in Angus, North and South Lanarkshire the 13-week deadline is September 22, 2024.
Carers may still be able to get fully backdated support after this if they have a good reason for missing the deadline.