Carer Support Payment Scotland: Eligibility, Rates and How to Apply

Carer Support Payment (CSP) is the Scottish Government's replacement for Carer's Allowance, fully administered by Social Security Scotland. If you're a carer living in Scotland, CSP is the payment you claim — not Carer's Allowance — and the total package is worth more than the UK baseline.

What is Carer Support Payment?

CSP replaced Carer's Allowance for Scottish residents in a phased transfer completed in 2024. The weekly rate matches Carer's Allowance (currently £86.45/week), but Scotland adds a Carer's Allowance Supplement — a top-up paid twice yearly (in June and December) to Scottish carers only.

The combined package means Scottish carers receive more per year than carers in England, Wales or Northern Ireland on Carer's Allowance alone.

Who qualifies?

To receive Carer Support Payment you must:

• Be 16 or over
• Live in Scotland
• Spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
• Care for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit
• Have earnings of no more than £151/week after allowable deductions

Qualifying disability benefits (for the person you care for)

The person you care for must receive one of:

• Child Disability Payment (CDP) — at the middle or highest rate of the care component, or at either rate of the mobility component
• Adult Disability Payment (ADP) — at the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) — at the standard or enhanced rate of the daily living component
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) — at the middle or highest rate of the care component
• Attendance Allowance — at either rate
• Constant Attendance Allowance — at or above the normal maximum rate

You can only claim CSP for one person. If you care for multiple people, you still only receive one payment — though an additional amount for an adult dependant (currently £38.70/week) may apply if your partner is also dependent.

How much is it?

The Carer's Allowance Supplement is calculated to bridge the gap between the UK Carer's Allowance rate and a higher Scottish target. In recent years, payments have been in the range of £230–£270 per payment (two per year).

Earnings limit: what counts?

The £151/week earnings limit is assessed after allowable deductions:

• Half of pension contributions you pay
• Allowable expenses directly related to your work (for self-employed carers)
• Childcare costs — up to half of your childcare costs if you pay a registered childminder or provider while you work

Earnings above £151/week (net of deductions) make you ineligible. Self-employed carers: the DWP/Social Security Scotland test looks at your actual earned income, not your turnover.

Students and Carer Support Payment

Full-time students in non-advanced education (school, college below HNC level) who are under 20 cannot claim CSP. However, this restriction does not apply to higher education students (university) or further education students aged 20+. If you're a student carer at university or college, you can still claim CSP provided you meet the 35-hour caring requirement and the earnings test.

How to apply

Apply online or by phone through Social Security Scotland:

• Online: mygov.scot/carer-support-payment
• Phone: 0800 182 2222 (free to call, Monday–Friday 8am–6pm)
• Paper form: available from Social Security Scotland on request

1. 1

   Check the person you care for receives a qualifying benefit

   You'll need their National Insurance number and the reference number of their disability benefit. If they've recently applied for CDP or ADP and are waiting for a decision, wait until the award is confirmed before applying for CSP.
2. 2

   Gather your information

   You'll need: your National Insurance number, bank or building society details, information about your employment and earnings, details of any childcare or pension costs you want to deduct.
3. 3

   Complete the online application

   Apply at mygov.scot/carer-support-payment. The form takes 20–40 minutes. Save your progress and return if needed — you don't have to complete it in one session.
4. 4

   Wait for a decision

   Social Security Scotland aims to process most new claims within 5 weeks. You'll receive a letter explaining the decision. If approved, payments start from the date of your application (backdating within the same assessment period may apply).

Effect on other benefits

Universal Credit: CSP counts as income for Universal Credit, which can reduce your UC amount. However, UC includes a carer element (currently £185.86/month) for UC claimants who also receive CSP. In many cases the carer element more than compensates for the reduction — but the exact effect depends on your individual circumstances.

Housing Benefit: CSP counts as income for Housing Benefit calculations.

Council Tax Reduction: Claiming CSP can qualify you for a Council Tax Reduction through your local council. This is separate from the UK-wide support and worth checking.

If you're unsure how CSP will interact with your existing benefits, contact a welfare rights adviser through Citizens Advice Scotland before applying.

Carer Support Payment vs Carer's Allowance

If you claimed Carer's Allowance before the Scottish transfer, Social Security Scotland automatically migrated your claim to CSP. You should have received a letter confirming this. If you're not sure whether your claim has been transferred, contact Social Security Scotland.

New claimants in Scotland must apply to Social Security Scotland for CSP — not to DWP for Carer's Allowance.

Related: Young Carer Grant — an annual payment for young carers aged 16–19. Child Disability Payment — often the qualifying benefit for the person being cared for.