What are Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment?
Carer’s Allowance is benefit paid to people who spend at least 35 hours per week caring for a person who receives a relevant disability benefit. You can only make one claim for Carer’s Allowance, regardless of how many people you care for.
A similar benefit called Carer Support Payment is being introduced in Scotland to replace Carer’s Allowance. It is being introduced in some areas of Scotland earlier than others. If it isn’t yet introduced in your area, then you can apply for Carer’s Allowance instead.
To find out if Carer Support Payment has been introduced in your area, you can use Social Security Scotland’s postcode checker here: postcodecheck.socialsecurity.gov.scot
From 4th November 2024 no-one in Scotland will be able to make a new claim for Carer’s Allowance, they will claim Carer Support payment instead.
If you already receive Carer’s Allowance in Scotland you will be moved on to Carer Support Payment by spring 2025. See Carer’s Allowance changes in Scotland – mygov.scot
To be able to claim, the person you are caring for must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:-
- the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment
- the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment
- either the highest or the middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance
- Child Disability Payment middle or highest rate care
- Attendance Allowance
- A high rate of Constant Attendance Allowance paid with the Industrial Injuries or War Pensions schemes
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You must:
- be caring for at least 35 hours per week for the person who is receiving a qualifying benefit
- be aged 16 or over
- for Carer’s Allowance, not in full-time education – though you can be in full-time education and receive Carer Support Payment
- not earning more than £151.00 a week (2024/2025) after expenses
- have been resident in Great Britain for a certain period of time
- not be subject to immigration control.
How to claim
You can claim Carer’s Allowance online
You can find out how to claim Carer Support payment here Carer Support Payment – mygov.scot
How much might I get?
The rate of Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment is £81.90 in 2024/2025.
Most people in Scotland who receive Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment are also entitled to 6 monthly payments of Carer’s Allowance Supplement of £288.60 (2024/2025).
If you receive Universal Credit, claiming Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment can affect the amount of Universal credit you are entitled to.
Other Benefits
By claiming Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment you may be entitled to additional amounts in claims for means-tested benefits. Claiming Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment can also reduce the benefits of the person you care for , so always have a benefit check each before you make a claim.
You can check your benefit entitlements on the Turn2us website here Turn2us Benefits Calculator
Information last updated on 1 August 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
If you would like this information guide in another version then please contact us and we will post or email you a copy.
Money, Benefits and Grants:Frequently Asked Questions
Through our helpline we receive enquiries spanning a wide range of different topics. Here is a selection of those most asked:
Can I get a reduction of Vehicle Excise Duty?
If you are disabled you may be entitled to a reduction or exemption of vehicle tax. The vehicle must be registered in your name or a specific driver’s name and must only be used for your personal needs.
You can apply for exemption if you get the:
- higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
- War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
You can get a 50% reduction in vehicle tax if you get the Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment standard rate mobility component Adult Disability Payment – mygov.scot
You can find out more here Vehicles exempt from vehicle tax – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What help is there with energy costs?
Energy costs used to be a worry in winter but now bills can be a challenge all year round.
The good news is there are different grants and schemes available to help people improve the heating in their homes and keep heating costs down.
Home Energy Scotland is a free energy advice service funded by the Scottish Government to help people save money and keep their homes warmer. They offer simple energy saving tips, and know about funding schemes and how to access them.
Their website Home Energy Scotland offers help with finding funding, reducing your bills, making your home warmer and living a greener life. You can call them on 0808 808 2282
Money, Benefits and Grants:Search for Local Organisations
Our quick search tool can connect you to over 3000 service providers, suppliers and organisations supporting people across Scotland. To find support near you, simply enter your search term and select your local authority.
Organisation | Description |
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The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation | General charitable purposes in the UK and overseas |
The Tudor Trust | Services provided: Tudor makes grants, and provides other types of support, to voluntary and community groups working in any part of the UK. They particularly want to help smaller, community-led organisations which work directly with people who are at… |
The WelfareTeam (Highland Council ) | Services provided Provide free, confidential benefit checks Provide assistance to complete relevant forms Provide assistance with appeals against benefit decisions, and if required provide representation at Tribunal Hearings |
The Well Multi Cultural Resource Centre | Services provided: A first level drop-in information and advice centre providing information on the following: Benefits Utilities Online Job seeking Family and personal issues Level 1 immigration advice (OISC registered) We also provide IT Support: Onl… |
The Wolfson Townsley Charitable Trust | Support excellence, generally through the funding of capital infrastructure in the fields of science and medicine, health, education and the arts & humanities |
Tillyloss Trust – (SC014908) | General charitable purposes in Scotland |
Tourettes Scotland | Support & Advice Our primary aim is to provide support to anyone living with Tourette Syndrome and their families. Due to stretched resources, we are not able to offer a telephone helpline at present. You can, however, contact us by emailing us u… |
Tree of Hope | Aims: Tree of Hope provides a charity platform for families to fundraise for their sick & disabled children across the United Kingdom who need surgeries, treatments, adaptations and a variety of therapies that are otherwise unobtainable without pri… |
Turn2us | Website which has been designed to help people find appropriate sources of financial support, quickly and easily |
Uist Citizens Advice Bureau | Aims: To ensure that people are not disadvantaged by lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities, or through difficult in expressing their needs effectively. We campaign and influence to tackle the root cause of the problems people face, and… |