Unpaid carers in Scotland set to receive £587 in extra payments this year
The Scottish Government recently confirmed that unpaid carers in Scotland will receive extra payments worth a total of £587 in 2025. As part of the annual benefits uprating exercise, Carer’s Allowance Supplement will increase from £288.60 to £293.50 for the 2025/26 financial year, a rise of £4.90 (1.7%).
More than 89,000 people on Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment received the Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment in December. Carer Support Payment has now replaced all new claims for Carer’s Allowance in Scotland, with existing claimants still on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) delivered benefit, due to move to the devolved system by this Spring.
READ MORE: New devolved benefit payment rates for pensioners, disabled people and families from April
READ MORE: New call for people on Carer’s Allowance to be paid £1,600 each month
The Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an automatic payment only available to people in Scotland to recognise the important contribution they make. The payments are administered by Social Security Scotland and made separately from Carer's Allowance and Carer Support Payment.
The Scottish Government also confirmed that Carer Support Payment will rise by 1.7 per cent from £81.90 to £83.30, some £333.20 every four week pay period. The weekly earnings threshold will also rise in-line with the DWP, from £151 to £196 - equivalent to 16 hours at the National Minimum Wage.
To qualify for the next payment in June, people need to be in receipt of either Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment on the qualifying date in April. Social Security Scotland have not announced when this will be - it was Monday, April 8 last year - and could potentially be Monday, April 7 this year. We will update this article once the date has been confirmed.
If you, or someone you know, is providing at least 35 hours of unpaid care for a friend, family member or neighbour, and not claiming Carer Support Payment, you could be missing out on nearly £5,000 this year.
Am I eligible for Carer Support Payment?
Carer Support Payment is money you can get if you provide care for someone and meet certain eligibility criteria.
You must:
be 16 or over
usually live in Scotland
provide care for 35 hours or more a week, this includes if you provide care all day every day
not earn more than £151 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses (rising to £196 from April)
The person you care for must already get one of these benefits:
Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - daily living component
Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - the middle or highest care rate
Attendance Allowance
Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)
Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension
Armed Forces Independence Payment
Guidance on mygov.scot explains: “If you get Carer Support Payment, it will not affect the qualifying benefit the person you care for gets. But it could affect other benefits that you and the person you care for get. If you live with a partner, it could also affect their benefits.”
You can find out more about how it might affect other payments here.
The type of care you provide
To get Carer Support Payment, you must provide care for someone as an unpaid carer for 35 hours or more a week.
It cannot be care you provide:
as a professional care worker
through a volunteering scheme or charity
Even if you do not think of yourself as an unpaid carer, you might be eligible for Carer Support Payment. Examples of caring for someone include supporting them:
with their mental health
during an illness
with a disability
if they have an addiction
Supporting someone with their mental health
If you provide care for someone with a mental health condition, you might:
comfort them during a panic attack
stay close by so they do not feel alone
support them through a crisis
make sure they're safe
keep them company
Supporting someone with an illness or disability
If you provide care for someone with an illness or disability, you might support them with:
getting around
getting dressed
taking medicines
using the shower or toilet
cooking meals
food shopping
translating
The person you provide care for
You might provide care for:
someone in your family
a friend
a neighbour
You do not have to live with them or be related to them.
You can only apply for Carer Support Payment for one person. If you provide care for more people, you are not entitled to extra payments.
You can check if you are eligible for Carer Support Payment and find full details on the devolved benefit on the mygov.scot website here.
