Carer Support Payment rolled out nationally

Carer Support Payment became available nationally in Scotland on 4 November 2024, Social Security Scotland has confirmed. The benefit replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland and is administered by Social Security Scotland rather than the Department for Work and Pensions¹.

The rollout was staged. Carer Support Payment opened for new applications in Dundee City, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Perth and Kinross on 20 November 2023. It launched in Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire on 24 June 2024, and in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire on 19 August 2024, before national availability on 4 November 2024¹. The Scottish Government said:

Carers in Scotland already receiving Carer's Allowance are being transferred automatically, a process that began in February 2024. Social Security Scotland writes to carers before their award transfers, and no action is required from them¹. Turn2us also records the transfer as beginning in February 2024 and the national availability of Carer Support Payment in November 2024³.

Eligibility requires the carer to 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 expenses. The person cared for must receive a qualifying disability benefit, such as Adult Disability Payment at the standard or enhanced daily living rate, Child Disability Payment at the middle or highest care rate, Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment daily living component, or Disability Living Allowance at the middle or highest care rate¹.

Carer Support Payment is an income replacement benefit, so it overlaps with State Pension, Maternity Allowance, contribution-based Jobseeker's Allowance, contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and several other payments. Where an overlapping benefit is lower than Carer Support Payment, the carer receives the difference as a top-up. Where it is the same or higher, no Carer Support Payment is paid, which is known as underlying entitlement¹.

Why it matters for households

Carers in Scotland who claim Carer's Allowance are moved to Carer Support Payment automatically, so the payment continues without a new claim. New claimants in Scotland apply to Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP¹. The earnings limit of £196 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses applies, and the 35 hour caring requirement remains¹. Because Carer Support Payment overlaps with State Pension and certain other benefits, some carers receive a reduced amount or no payment while retaining underlying entitlement, which can carry access to other support¹. The Scottish Government's own take-up publication notes that Young Carer Grant take-up was estimated at 87% in 2023-24, up from 75% in 2022-23².

What happens next

The next Carer Support Payment statistics publication will cover the period to the end of June 2026 and is due for release in August 2026¹. From 15 March 2026, Carer's Allowance Supplement was replaced by Scottish Carer Supplement, paid alongside Carer Support Payment on a weekly eligibility basis with no application required, and Carer Additional Person Payment was introduced, worth an extra £10.40 per week per additional cared for person¹. Pension Age Disability Payment, which replaces Attendance Allowance in Scotland, was piloted in October 2024 with national rollout not expected until April 2025².