Carer Support Payment became available across Scotland from November 2024. This benefit replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland.

Carer Support Payment is money you can get if you provide care for someone and meet certain eligibility criteria. You must:

• be 16 or over
• usually live in Scotland
• provide care for 35 hours or more a week, this includes if you provide care all day every day
• not earn more than £196 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses

You cannot get Carer Support Payment and Carer's Allowance at the same time.

Before you make a claim for Carer Support Payment, you should check with the person you are caring for, as it may affect some of the benefits they receive if you are successful, such as losing a severe disability premium from their:

• Income Support
• Income based Jobseekers Allowance
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit

Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you are a carer. You can get paid £83.30 a week if you're eligible.

Carer Support Payment is normally paid every 4 weeks, at the end of the 4 weeks.

If you move from Carers Allowance to Carer Support Payment, you can get paid weekly.

If you are entitled to Carer Support Payment, your household will be exempt from the 'benefit cap' which limits the total weekly benefits that can be claimed.

People living in Scotland, who are receiving Carer's Support Payment could also get an extra payment known as Carer's Allowance Supplement.

To be eligible for Carer Support Payment, you must provide care for someone who gets one of these disability benefits:

• Adult Disability Payment – daily living component
• Child Disability Payment – middle or highest rate care component
• Pension Age Disability Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Personal Independence Payment – daily living component
• Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest rate care component
• Disability Living Allowance – middle or highest rate care component
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above normal maximum rate with Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
• Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

These are sometimes called 'qualifying benefits'.

If you get Carer Support Payment, it will not affect the qualifying benefit the person you care for gets. But it could affect other benefits that you and the person you care for get. If you live with a partner, it could also affect their benefits.

The quickest way to apply for Carers Support Payment is online.