Carer Support Payment & Scottish Carer Supplement | Scotland

Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. It’s worth the same amount and you will automatically have been switched over. Its introduction was staggered across Scotland and completed in November 2024. It is now managed by Social Security Scotland.

Additionally, you may be eligible for Scottish Carer Supplement, which replaced Carer’s Allowance Supplement in March 2026. This is paid with your Carer Support Payment, every week or every four weeks, rather than twice yearly as before.

Who is eligible for Carer Support Payment?

To be eligible, both you and the person you care for must meet certain criteria.

You must provide care for at least 35 hours per week

Care includes support with tasks that the person cannot do or cannot do unaided, due to their health.

These could include:

• Washing, dressing, shaving, eating
• Cooking, cleaning, laundry, running errands, shopping
• Managing medicines, finances and correspondence

If the person you care for has a mental health problem, care can include emotional and practical support at times when they are struggling with symptoms related to their condition, such as depressive episodes, panic attacks, hallucinations or compulsions.

Download your free home care funding guide

Email(Required)

Consent

I do not want to receive free advice & guidance from homecare.co.uk.

Download your free guide

Other criteria for you as carer

• You must be at least 16 years old and live in Scotland
• You earn under £196 a week after tax
• You meet rules around what kind of education (if any) you’re in. If you’re aged 20 or over, you can be in full-time education and still qualify for Carer Support Payment. If you’re aged between 16 and 19 it’s more complicated, more information for students here.

The person you care for must receive a qualifying benefit

Qualifying benefits include:

• Adult Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate of the Care Component)
• Adult Disability Payment (the Daily Living Component)
• Attendance Allowance
• Child Disability Payment (middle or higher rate of Care Component)
• Pension Age Disability Payment

Is everybody who gets Carer Support Payment eligible for Scottish Carer Supplement?

Scottish Carer Supplement replaced Carer’s Allowance Supplement in March 2026. If you receive Carer Support Payment, check the current eligibility rules from Social Security Scotland to confirm whether Scottish Carer Supplement will be included in your payments.

Unlike Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which was paid twice a year, Scottish Carer Supplement is paid alongside Carer Support Payment, either weekly or every four weeks.

How much is Carer Support Payment?

The 2026/27 rate is £86.45 per week. It may be less if you receive certain other benefits, such as New-Style ESA, New-Style JSA or State Pension.

This rate is the same as Carer’s Allowance and you cannot claim both.

You’ll be paid every four weeks, but you may be able to have it weekly.

You should also get a £10 Christmas bonus.

How much is Scottish Carer Supplement?

Scottish Carer Supplement replaced Carer’s Allowance Supplement in March 2026 and is paid alongside Carer Support Payment, either weekly or every four weeks.

The amount you receive depends on the current Scottish Carer Supplement rate. Check the latest Social Security Scotland guidance for the current payment amount.

For comparison, Carer’s Allowance Supplement was previously paid as two separate payments each year.

How do I apply for Carer Support Payment?

If you already got Carer’s Allowance before 2024, the switch to Carer Support Payment should have been automatic.

Likewise, if you already receive either Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment, and you meet the criteria for Scottish Carer Supplement, you should get it without having to do anything.

If you are a new applicant, you can first check your eligibility through mygov.scot’s online tool. If successful, payments can be backdated by up to 13 weeks.