On Friday 7 June, tens of thousands of unpaid carers in Scotland will receive a one-off payment of £288.60. This automatic payment, known as the Carer's Allowance Supplement, is made twice a year by the Scottish Government in recognition of the invaluable contribution carers make.
Carer's Allowance Eligibility and Payment Details
To qualify for this payment, people must have been in receipt of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Carer's Allowance or the new Scottish Social Security Carer's Payment from 8 April 2024.
People who claimed these benefits before the deadline and are awaiting a decision will receive the payment retrospectively if their claim is approved.
This supplement is administered separately from the regular Carer's Allowance by Scottish Social Security. The next payment will be distributed in December to those eligible on 7 October 2024, with the exact date to be announced later in the year.
According to recent DWP data, 84,896 people were receiving Carer's Allowance in August last year.
Introduction of Carer Support Payment
Scotland is gradually moving from the DWP-run Carer's Allowance to the Carer Support Payment, a new devolved benefit.
The Carer Support Payment was introduced in November 2023 for residents of Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles.
It is important to note that the new Carer's Allowance is only available to new claimants; those already receiving Carer's Allowance will continue to receive their DWP payments until their benefits are transferred to Scottish Social Security.
Throughout this transition, the weekly payment amount will remain at £81.90, and there will be no break in payments. The weekly pay threshold will also remain in line with the current DWP limit of £151 for the financial year 2024/25.
Those switching from Carer's Allowance to Carer's Support Allowance can opt for a weekly payment instead of every four weeks.
Carers who live in areas where Carers Allowance is not yet available are encouraged to apply for Carers Support Allowance to ensure they do not miss out on help.
Eligibility Expansion
The Carers Support Payment is now available to carers aged 16-19 who are in full-time ‘advanced’ training and those aged over 20 who are in full-time training at any level.
From 24 June, the scheme will also include some carers aged 16-19 who are on full-time ‘non-advanced’ training, for example at school.
Key Dates for Carer Support Payment
- Currently available: Perth & Kinross, Dundee City, and Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
- June 24: North and South Lanarkshire, Angus
- August 19: Fife, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, and North, East and South Ayrshire
- November 4: Available across Scotland
Backdated Payments
New regulations have introduced special backdating rules, allowing eligible carers who do not currently receive Carer's Allowance but are entitled to Carer's Support Payment to claim backdated payments.
This ensures that no carer loses out on funding due to the phase of their place of residence in the implementation schedule.
This change primarily helps carers aged 16-19 who are on full-time ‘advanced’ training and those aged over 20 who are on full-time training at any level.
To receive fully backdated payments, carers must apply within 13 weeks of the introduction of the benefit in their area.
The transfer of responsibilities from the DWP to Scottish Social Security began in February and is due to be completed in spring 2025. For more details on Carer Support, visit the Scottish Government website.