Thousands of unpaid carers due extra £293 payment on top of benefit next month

Daily Record

01-05-2025

Unpaid carers in Scotland will receive extra payments worth a total of £587 by the end of 2025. As part of the annual benefits uprating exercise, Carer's Allowance Supplement increase from £288.60 to £293.50 for the 2025/26 financial year, a rise of £4.90 (1.7%).
The payment is made twice each year with more than 89,000 people on Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment receiving Carer's Allowance Supplement in December.
Guidance on mygov.scot states: "The next payment will be £293.50 from June 2025. You'll get this payment if you're getting Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance on 14 April 2025. If you're due to get a payment, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland before the payment is made."
The date for the June payment has still to be announced. it's important to be aware this is a separate payment from Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance.
The Carer's Allowance Supplement is an automatic payment only available to people in Scotland to recognise the important contribution they make. The payments are administered by Social Security Scotland and made separately from Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment.
Carer Support Payment has replaced all new claims for Carer's Allowance in Scotland, which is delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Carer Support Payment has now increased from £81.90 to £83.30, some £333.20 every four-week pay period.
The weekly earnings threshold has also gone up in-line with the DWP, from £151 to £196 - equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum Wage.
This means that a carer can earn £45 more a week, after tax, National Insurance and certain expenses, and be eligible for the payment.
The change could mean carers already receiving Carer Support Payment will be able to undertake more paid work and still receive the payment. In addition, many carers earning a take home pay of £10,192 or less a year, who were previously unable to access the additional support could now be eligible.
Social Justice Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, recently said: 'The Scottish Government proposed back in 2022 to raise the earnings limit for Carer Support Payment once fully launched. This was on the back of strong feedback from carers and support organisations that the previous limit was set too low.
'The increase puts the earnings limit at a level which equates to 16 hours at the national living wage. Alongside other improvements we have made, this should help more carers to balance paid work with caring and provide more stable financial support.
'The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring everyone gets the financial support they're entitled to, despite the UK Government's recent announcement on changes to welfare.'
If you, or someone you know, is providing at least 35 hours of unpaid care for a friend, family member or neighbour, and not claiming Carer Support Payment, you could be missing out on nearly £5,000 this year.
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.