6 days ago
Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year – see who is eligible
THOUSANDS of people are set to receive a free £290 payment this year.
The extra money comes via the Carer's Allowance Supplement which is issued to households in Scotland.
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The supplement is paid twice a year to those on Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance and each instalment is worth £293.50.
The first payment was made in June to those receiving one of the qualifying benefits on April 14.
The second will be made from December if you are getting either of the two benefits on October 13.
If you're due a payment later this year, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland letting you know you're eligible.
Anyone who qualifies does not have to apply as payments are made automatically.
If you don't get Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance because you receive other "underlying" benefits - you don't get a Carer's Allowance Supplement.
Around 90,000 were issued a Carer's Allowance Supplement in June, meaning a similar amount can expect payments this December.
What if I don't live in Scotland?
You might be able to get Carer's Allowance Supplement if you have a "genuine and sufficient link" to Scotland but live outside the UK, in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or Gibraltar.
Some of the factors the Scottish government considers when deciding whether you have a genuine and sufficient link to the country include:
you have spent a significant part of your life in Scotland
you have worked, or have previously and paid social security or tax contributions
you have Scottish bank accounts or other financial products
you have the right to any rented or owned property in Scotland
you have any family members living in Scotland
you have frequent contact with family members in Scotland
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
Some of the countries that fall into the EEA are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Spain and Norway.
For Social Security Scotland to determine whether you're eligible for Carer's Allowance Supplement while living outside of the UK, it goes over some residency details before making a decision on your application.
More information on what types of details it will ask for, visit -
Other available help
It's worth checking if you're eligible for benefits - it could boost your bank balance by thousands of pounds a year.
Some benefits come with added perks as well, like Pension Credit which can unlock a free TV licence for those aged 75 or older.
Meanwhile, if you're struggling with the cost of food, check where your nearest food bank is.
The Trussell Trust has hundreds of food banks across the UK- you can find your nearest one here -
The Trust's food banks issue emergency parcels to people who cannot afford to cover costs themselves.
If you have fallen behind on your energy bills, you might be able to get a grant to wipe any debt.
British Gas and Octopus Energy, the UK's two biggest energy firms, both run schemes offering customers grants worth up to £2,000.
Some energy firms will debt match any repayments as well.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
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