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Changes to Carers Benefits from 15th March 2026
Carers Support Payment
Social Security Scotland has three payments for unpaid carers. Carer Support Payment, a weekly payment of £83.30, has replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. The payment is available to people providing care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives disability benefits. They need to earn less than £196 per week after tax, national insurance and expenses.
Carer Support Payment is also available to some carers in education. This includes fulltime students aged 20 or over and students under 20 who are in advanced or higher education. Some carers aged 16-19 in non-advanced education may be eligible. This includes those studying for National Certificates, Highers and Advanced Highers, who meet certain criteria, for example, not having any parental support.
Please click on the link for more information https://www.mygov.scot/carer-support-payment
Young Carers Grant
is available for carers aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving disability benefits. It is a yearly payment of £390.25 and the money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.
Please click on the link below for further information.
https://www.mygov.scot/young-carer-grant
From 15th March 2026, Scottish Carer Supplement will replace Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which will be an extra payment awarded automatically to carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment.
Scottish Carer Supplement provides an extra £11.29 per week (25/26) increasing to £11.70 per week (26/27) and will be paid alongside Carer Support Payment – this ensures it is disregarded as income or capital.
Eligibility
A carer will be entitled for every award week that they are paid Carer Support Payment – those with underlying entitlement are not eligible.
Carers Additional Person Payment (CAPP)
The first payment of its type made to carers with multiple caring roles in Scotland.
The payment will be paid for each additional person cared for and there is no limit on the number of awards carers can receive. Carers Additional Person cannot be paid where another carer is already receiving CAPP for the same additional cared for person.
Carers can receive CAPP for an additional cared for person where another carer is receiving Carer Support Payment, Carer’s Allowance, Young Carer Grant or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for the same additional cared for person.
Carer Additional Person Payment is a £10 weekly payment (25/26), increasing to £10.40 (26/27), paid alongside Carer Support Payment– this ensures it is disregarded as income or capital.
Eligibility
- Carers must be paid Carer Support Payment
- Care at least 20 hours per week for one or more additional person(s) who receives a qualifying disability benefit.
- Caring hours can be carried out at the same time across all cared for persons.
- Care cannot be provided as part of a contract of employment or where volunteering as part of a charitable/non-profit org.
If you require any help or assistance or, wish further information please contact us on 0800 028 2755 or e-mail Welfarerights@acha.co.uk
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