Carer’s Week: providing support for unpaid carers

Social Security Scotland recognises the challenges that unpaid carers face and the difference that they make to families and communities across Scotland.

That’s why, during Carer’s Week, we’re urging unpaid carers to check if they are eligible for help.

Unpaid carers provide care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction or who needs extra help as they grow older. This could include helping them with their medication, cooking meals or translating into another language for them. It could even be simply keeping them company or checking on them throughout the day.

Many people don’t see themselves as carers and could be missing out on financial support they are entitled to, so it’s important they check to see if they are eligible.

We’re also encouraging people who get disability benefits, and have a carer who supports them, to encourage their carer to apply.

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £359.65 for young carers in Scotland. It is available to young people aged 16-18 who are caring for one, two or three people for an average of 16 hours a week. Young carers need to fill in a new form or call us each year they want to apply. How people spend the Young Carer Grant is up to them. They could use it for things like new clothes, driving lessons or a holiday.

Carer’s Allowance is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions to some carers who provide over 35 hours a week of care to a disabled person who is receiving certain benefits. Eligible carers can receive £76.75. More information is available on the Department for Work and Pensions website.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an extra payment for people in Scotland who currently get Carer's Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions on a particular date. It is paid automatically twice a year and the next payment of £270.50 will be made on 9 June. People will automatically get the payment if they were already getting Carer’s Allowance on 10 April 2023.

Clients who have received Carer’s Allowance Supplement have told of the difference it can make.

One said: “Carers Allowance allows me to fill my car with petrol every two weeks because I have to visit dad every day. I do a lot of back and forth between caring and shopping, so it helps me a lot and I’m very grateful for it.”

Another said: “Extra payments I have received have been crucial and have helped me and my son. Without these payments it would have been extremely difficult.”

And another added: “Receiving carers supplement made me feel valued as part of society again. It was a tough transition going from a health care professional to an unpaid career and it helped me feel ‘seen’ and valued for the additional work I do compared to parents of non-disabled children.”

Supporting people in our workforce who have caring roles

We know some carers have to give up work because juggling a job with caring responsibilities can become overwhelming. We are committed to making sure we support Social Security Scotland staff who have caring responsibilities, helping them balance their caring demands with their career. As well as benefiting our workforce, it also helps us build a better social security system as we retain people who have lived experiences similar to those receiving or applying for carers benefits.

One way we support our people with caring responsibilities is through the monthly Carer’s Café where staff who are carers can share thoughts, feelings and experiences or even just speak to someone going through a similar experience.

One member of staff spoke about their experience of hosting these sessions:

"Our monthly Carer's Café has been a great way for carers in the organisation to meet other colleagues who are carers, to share information and have an informal chat in a supportive environment. I've often found that carers balance a lot of priorities, and the people who attend the Carer's Café tend to be very inspiring, uplifting, and resilient. It's good to hear how other carers manage day to day, and everyone is keen to help others by sharing their experiences and the support available."

To find out more about these benefits and apply online, over the phone or to book an appointment to apply in-person, people can visit mygov.scot/benefits or call us free on 0800 182 2222.