First applications for new carer benefit from November

Unpaid carers in three pilot areas will be able to apply for a new Scottish benefit from November, the Scottish Government has announced.

Assuming the Parliament approves the draft regulations, carer support payment will open for applications from adults living in Perth & Kinross, Dundee City and Na h-Eileanan an Iar, ahead of a phased national rollout from spring 2024.

The benefit, which replaces the DWP carer's allowance, will be available nationally by autumn 2024. It will be the 14th Scottish benefit.

More than 80,000 carers will be eligible, including 1,500 who are currently unable to access carer’s allowance due to studying full time.

The draft regulations provide that students can get carer support payment if they meet the other eligibility criteria and are:

• any age and studying part time (for less than 21 hours a week);
• 20 or over and studying full time at any level of education;
• 16 to 19 and studying full time advanced education.

Carer support payment amount will continue to be paid at the same rate as carer’s allowance (currently £76.75 a week) from launch until case transfers are complete. The Scottish Government is committed to improvements as soon as feasible after the transfer from carer’s allowance is complete, including new extra support for those caring for more than one person and extended support for carers following the death of the person they care for.

Carers in Scotland who are already receiving carer’s allowance will not need to make an application for carer support payment. Their benefits will start to transfer automatically from February 2024. Carers will receive information before their benefits transfer to tell them more about what to expect. 

Social Justice Secretary Shirley Anne Somerville commented:

"I am pleased student carers will be able to apply as soon as carer support payment is available in their local authority area, given the calls from carers and support organisations for changes to the current rules.

"This change and the delivery of carer support payment will be a key milestone in our ongoing work to improve support for unpaid carers, and we are committed to further changes to make the benefit work even better in future."