Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment for young carers in Scotland. The payment is in acknowledgment of their role as a carer.
The payment is a flat rate of £383.75 paid once a year. Applicants can apply each year they are eligible. The payment will increase with inflation each year. There are no restrictions on what the client can spend their money on.
If a client got Young Carer Grant last year and now lives in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or Gibraltar, you need to read the 'Reapplying for Young Carer Grant outside Scotland' guidance.
There are three different ways that an applicant can apply for Young Carer Grant. They can apply:
Applicants can apply online via the mygov.scot website.
Applicants will need to complete the form in one sitting as there is no save and resume function on the form.
The applicant will not be able to apply online if they:
The paper application can be downloaded from the MyGov website or applicants can call free on 0800 182 2222 to request one.
The applicant can also call us to request the form in different formats and languages.
The applicant can apply by calling the agency free on 0800 182 222. This application process will be completed on Intelligence Evidence Gathering (IEG).
When dealing with a phone application, the adviser should inform the applicant:
When we receive an application from a client, it’s sent to a client adviser to be processed.
They will check that all mandatory parts of the application have been completed. If it’s a paper application, they will ensure that the form has been signed.
Once this has been done, the application eligibility will be checked.
To process a Young Carer Grant application, review the application to ensure details of the applicant and at least one cared for person have been given. If any of these details are missing we need to contact the client or return the form to them to fill in the missing details.
Follow this process:
1. Check the system to confirm the applicant’s details match those provided and to confirm if Carer's Allowance is in place or if there has been an application made.
2. Also check if the applicant has an appointee. This must be someone who has officially been given the status of appointee to apply on behalf of someone for Young Carer Grant. If they do have one and they have not made the application, then follow the Appointee process.
3. Check if Identity and Residence evidence has been received from the applicant. If it has, then review and check it is on the list of acceptable evidence before clearing the Identification evidence. If it has not, issue the evidence request letter to the applicant.
4. Check the system to confirm cared for person details match those as provided on application.
5. Check that one of the qualifying benefits is in place. If there are no qualifying benefits showing on the system, then a referral must be made to the Exceptions team.
6. Check if there is a parent/guardian or appointee recorded. If there is then the relationship must be recorded to ensure that the letter to the cared for person is sent to them.
7. Issue a letter to the cared for person(s).
8. Once all eligibility evidences and verifications have been cleared, run eligibility check. See eligibility guidance.
9. Eligibility check – If they pass, authorise the application case, or if they fail, deny it.
10. If the client wants to submit a redetermination and appeal follow the usual process.