Carer Support Payment launches in seven further areas

Carer Support Payment opened for new applications in seven further local authority areas on 19 August 2024, Social Security Scotland's statistics publication records. The areas were Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire¹.

The benefit, which replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland, had already opened in three pilot areas on 20 November 2023 (Dundee City, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Perth and Kinross) and in Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire on 24 June 2024¹. It was made available nationally on 4 November 2024¹.

The August 2024 launch was one stage of a phased rollout. The publication sets out the sequence:

Source: Social Security Scotland¹

Carer Support Payment is administered by Social Security Scotland and replaces Carer's Allowance, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions¹. People in Scotland already receiving Carer's Allowance have their awards transferred automatically, a process that began in February 2024; Social Security Scotland writes to carers in advance¹.

To qualify, a carer must be 16 or over, usually live in Scotland, provide care for 35 hours or more a week, not be studying certain courses if aged 16 to 19, and not earn more than £196 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses¹. The person cared for must receive a qualifying disability benefit, including Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance¹.

By 31 March 2026, 48,090 applications had been received and 39,215 had been processed with a decision: 75% authorised, 15% denied and 10% withdrawn¹. Of applications received, 75% came online, 18% by phone and 6% on paper¹. The total value of payments issued between 20 November 2023 and 31 March 2026 was £516.0 million¹. In March 2026, 95,420 individuals received payments, and 109,260 individuals had been paid since launch¹.

The median processing time for all applications decided by 31 March 2026 was 48 working days, but over the latest quarter it rose from 54 working days in December 2025 to 71 working days in March 2026¹.

Why it matters for households

For carers in the seven areas, 19 August 2024 was the point from which new claims could be made locally rather than waiting for national rollout on 4 November 2024¹. Carers elsewhere in Scotland could apply from the national date¹.

The payment is aimed at people providing at least 35 hours of care a week for someone on a qualifying disability benefit, subject to the earnings limit of £196 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses¹. Carers who already receive certain income replacement benefits, including State Pension, Maternity Allowance or contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, may have their Carer Support Payment reduced or receive nothing, described as underlying entitlement¹. More detail is set out in the guide to Carer Support Payment and Young Carer Grant and in Money Help for Unpaid Carers.

Two changes took effect on 15 March 2026: Carer's Allowance Supplement was replaced by Scottish Carer Supplement, paid automatically alongside Carer Support Payment on a weekly eligibility basis, and Carer Additional Person Payment was introduced, worth an extra £10.40 per week per additional cared-for person¹. At 31 March 2026, 296 applications had included a request for Carer Additional Person Payment¹.

At 31 March 2026, an estimated 134,380 carers were on the caseload: 101,080 in receipt of payment and 33,305 with underlying entitlement. Of the total, 26,215 were new applicants and 108,170 had awards transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions¹.

What happens next

The next Carer Support Payment publication will cover the period to the end of June 2026 and is due for release in August 2026¹. The statistics are published as official statistics in development and have not yet been assessed by the UK Statistics Authority¹.