People making a new claim for carer benefit also due £293 extra payment before Christmas
Unpaid carers across Scotland are being urged to find out if they are eligible for additional financial support through Carer Support Payment, Carer's Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant.
Carer's Allowance Supplement - a payment only available north of the border - was the first benefit delivered by Social Security Scotland in 2018 to provide extra financial support for carers, recognising their important contribution.
The first £293.50 payment of the year was issued to more than 90,000 carers in June with the next lump sum due to land in bank accounts before Christmas. The payment of £293.50 is issued twice each year and gives those on Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment the potential to earn £4,475 over the 2025/26 financial year.
The payment is issued by Social Security Scotland to people who receive Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on a specific date. Only carers in Scotland are eligible for the December payment if they received Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on October 13, 2025.
It's important to be aware that the £293.50 Carer's Allowance Supplement is paid separately from any benefit payment from Social Security Scotland or the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Carers eligible for the payment will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made, although this may arrive after the money has landed in accounts.
Nobody needs to apply for the extra money as it is paid automatically to everyone who is eligible.
On a visit to Midlothian Carers Centre to meet with parent carers of adults with additional support needs last month, Minister for Equalities, Kaukab Stewart, said: 'Social security in Scotland isn't about renaming benefits previously delivered by the UK Government. We are about delivering social security with dignity, fairness and respect, continually listening to what carers and support organisations have to say to help shape the changes we're making.
'We introduced Carer's Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant, which are only available in Scotland, and widened eligibility for Carer Support Payment to enable more carers in education to access it. We're also committed to introducing new extra support for carers who care for more than one person. Changes to help improve the lives of carers in Scotland.
'Social security is something anyone may need at any point in their life. It's a public service and I encourage all unpaid carers to find out if they are entitled to financial support and apply.'
Carer Support Payment
Carer Support Payment is the devolved equivalent to Carer's Allowance and is worth £83.30 per week to people providing 35 hours of unpaid care to family, friends or neighbours in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit.
The payment is typically issued every four weeks which amounts to £333.20.
The weekly earnings threshold is £196 - equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum Wage.
Am I eligible for Carer Support Payment?
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
The person you care for must already get one of these 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
The type of care you provide
To get Carer Support Payment, you must provide care for someone as an unpaid carer for 35 hours or more a week.
It cannot be care you provide:
as a professional care worker
through a volunteering scheme or charity
Even if you do not think of yourself as an unpaid carer, you might be eligible for Carer Support Payment. Examples of caring for someone include supporting them:
with their mental health
during an illness
with a disability
if they have an addiction
Supporting someone with their mental health
If you provide care for someone with a mental health condition, you might:
comfort them during a panic attack
stay close by so they do not feel alone
support them through a crisis
make sure they're safe
keep them company
Supporting someone with an illness or disability
If you provide care for someone with an illness or disability, you might support them with:
getting around
getting dressed
taking medicines
using the shower or toilet
cooking meals
food shopping
translating
The person you provide care for
You might provide care for:
someone in your family
a friend
a neighbour
You do not have to live with them or be related to them.
You can only apply for Carer Support Payment for one person. If you provide care for more people, you are not entitled to extra payments.
You can check if you are eligible for Carer Support Payment and find full details on the devolved benefit on the mygov.scot website here.
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