Carer Support Payment

Carer Support Payment is a benefit for people living in Scotland who regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with substantial care needs. 

It was introduced in 2024, replacing Carer's Allowance. If you got Carer's Allowance you were automatically moved across between February 2024 and spring 2025.

You don't have to be related to the person you're caring for or be living with them to qualify for Carer Support Payment. The person you're caring for must be getting a qualifying benefit (see ‘Do I qualify?’ below for a list).

You can qualify even if you've never been employed or paid National Insurance contributions.

Carer Support Payment isn't affected by how much you have in savings. However, if you (the carer) receive weekly earnings of £196 or more after tax, you won't qualify. The benefit is also taxable.

You can get Carer Support Payment even if you, the carer, are disabled and getting Pension Age Disability Payment (the new benefit replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland), Adult Disability Payment (the new benefit replacing Personal Independence Payment in Scotland), or Disability Living Allowance.

If you claim Carer Support Payment, it can sometimes reduce the amount of means-tested benefits that the person you care for can claim. To find out more, contact Citizens Advice or another organisation that gives benefits advice – your local welfare rights group, for example.

You can contact the Parkinson's UK helpline for information about organisations that can help.

What if I'm in England, Wales or Northern Ireland?

People in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can claim Carer's Allowance, which has similar rules to Carer Support Payment. 

See our information about Carer's Allowance.

The weekly rate is £83.30. 

If you're entitled to Carer Support Payment, you'll also get a 'Carer Support Payment Supplement' of £293.50 every 6 months, in June and December.

Carer Support Payment can be paid weekly in advance or in arrears every 4 weeks.

It can be paid from the date of the award of the qualifying benefit, such as Pension Age Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment, as long as you apply within 3 months of the date of the awarding letter.

Your money will be paid directly into your bank or building society account.

You can ask for Carer Support Payment to be backdated for 13 weeks at the start of the claim as long as the person receiving the care was entitled to 1 of the qualifying benefits for the same time. You as the carer must also have met all rules to qualify.

You can make a claim for Carer Support Payment or Young Carer's Grant online using Social Security Scotland’s myaccount system.

You can also call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 to make a claim.

Carer's Credit is intended to protect the State Pension rights of carers who aren't able to pay National Insurance contributions and aren't entitled to Carer Support Payment.

You could get it if you care for someone for at least 20 hours a week and aren't entitled to Carer Support Payment.

You won't directly receive any money for Carer's Credit. But by filling any gaps in your National Insurance record (for example, because you're unable to work while caring for someone) it will help to protect your State Pension entitlement and other benefits that depend on National Insurance contributions.

You can claim Carer's Credit online on the GOV.UK website. 

You can also call 0800 731 0297 (textphone 0800 731 0317).