DWP payment rules for people on Carer's Allowance going on holiday abroad
Nearly one million people across Great Britain, including over 90,000 living in Scotland are currently receiving £83.30 each week in Carer's Allowance. However, many of those claimants may not be aware of several changes in circumstances that must be reported to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), or risk losing their benefit entitlement.
These changes include starting a job, entering or leaving full-time education, earning more than £196 per week, not providing 35 hours of weekly care, or the person they care for goes into hospital, into a care home or takes a holiday.
However, many unpaid carers may be unaware that going abroad on holiday for a period of more than four weeks during a six-month period (26 weeks), may affect benefit entitlement. This means that if you are planning more than one foreign getaway between now and the end of this year you will need to make sure the dates fall within the guidance on GOV.UK.
The guidance states: 'You can carry on claiming Carer's Allowance if you take up to four weeks holiday out of a 26-week period. Tell the office that deals with your benefit that you'll be away."
However, additional advice on the Independent Age website also says that if you're going abroad temporarily with the person you care for and they receive certain benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Attendance Allowance, the duration can be extended.
It also advises that if you move to a country within the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you may be able to keep receiving payments or make a new claim - find out more on GOV.UK here.
A full list of changes to report to the DWP can be found on GOV.UK here. You can also report the change online on that same page.
Reporting a change online
Make sure you have:
your National Insurance number
details of the person you're caring for
details of your changes
Carer's Allowance Supplement
Scots claiming Carer Support Payment, or existing Carer's Allowance claimants in Scotland-only will receive a one-off payment for £293.50 in December. Carer's Allowance Supplement is an automatic payment made twice each year by the Scottish Government to recognise the important contribution made by unpaid carers - the first payment of 2025 was made in June.
To qualify for the automatic payment before Christmas, people need to have been in receipt of either Carer's Allowance from the DWP, or Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland, on October 13, 2025 - the exact payment date before Christmas will be confirmed nearer the time.
The payment is administered by Social Security Scotland and delivered separately from Carer's Allowance. and Carer Support Payment.
Nobody needs to apply for the extra money as it is paid automatically to everyone who is eligible.
Carer Support Payment in a nutshell
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
You can find out more about how it might affect other payments here.
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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