Carer’s Allowance replacement to launch in Scotland from Sunday

3 mins read

Tuesday 14 November 2023

Tags: social security scotland, carer support payment

This Sunday 19 November, a new benefit, Carer Support Payment, is rolling out in Scotland to replace Carer’s Allowance. The new benefit is paid at the same rate as Carer’s Allowance and will mostly have the same qualifying rules.

Below we explain what you need to know about the roll-out of Carer Support Payment.

Roll-out to new claimants

Initially, the new benefit pilots in the three areas of Dundee City, Perth and Kinross, and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles) only. If you live in one of these three areas and want to make a claim for Carer’s Allowance on or after 19 November, you will need to claim Carer Support Payment instead. 

To claim Carer Support Payment in one of the three pilot areas, apply online via mygov.scot. You can also telephone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

Social Security Scotland says that it plans a phased roll-out of the benefit to replace new applications for Carer’s Allowance elsewhere in Scotland. This is expected to start from Spring 2024, and the new benefit is likely to cover all areas of Scotland from Autumn 2024.

Roll-out to existing Carer’s Allowance claimants

For the time being, existing Carer’s Allowance claimants will continue to receive that benefit, even in the three pilot areas.

From February 2024 onwards, Social Security Scotland will gradually transfer existing Carer’s Allowance claimants in Scotland onto Carer Support Payment. This process will happen automatically without the need for you to complete a claim form. Further details about the timetable for transferring existing claimants is not yet available.

How much is Carer Support Payment?

Carer Support Payment is paid at the rate of £76.75 per week, the same amount as Carer’s Allowance.  You should also receive an additional lump sum payment – known as the Carer’s Allowance Supplement – twice a year.

Who qualifies for Carer Support Payment?

See our Carer Support Payment webpage for more details of the qualifying rules.

Most of the rules are identical to Carer’s Allowance. This includes the earnings threshold and the need to be looking after someone on certain disability benefits for at least 35 hours a week.

The main differences are:

  • More generous rules for students, allowing carers in some forms of full-time education to qualify for Carer Support Payment even though they would have been refused Carer’s Allowance.  
  • The amount of time someone must have spent in the UK before they can claim Carer Support Payment is 26 weeks out of the previous 52 weeks. The rule for Carer’s Allowance is 104 weeks out of 156 weeks.

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