Changes to carer benefits residence eligibility

Carer’s Allowance Supplement and Young Carer Grant are now available to carers living outside of the United Kingdom in certain circumstances.

Changes made on 24 December 2020 mean that carers living in the European Economic Area and Switzerland who have links to Scotland may be entitled to financial support.

Eligible carers can apply for past payments they have missed - Carer’s Allowance Supplement was introduced on 16 April 2018 and Young Carer Grant opened on 21 October 2019.

This does not include carers living outside of Scotland in the rest of the UK.

People may be eligible for these benefits if:

• they meet the standard eligibility criteria

• they are ‘habitually resident’ in the European Economic Area or Switzerland and moved there before 01 January 2021 (unless they are in Ireland or Gibraltar)

• the ‘competent state’ for payment of benefits to them is the UK

• they can demonstrate a ‘genuine and sufficient link’ to Scotland.

Carer’s Allowance Supplement is an automatic payment for those that reside in Scotland. People who live in the European Economic Area or Switzerland will need to apply. Find out how to do this at mygov.scot/carers-allowance-supplement/applying-outside-of-scotland

Young Carer Grant is a yearly payment of £305.10. Find out how to apply when living outside of the United Kingdom at mygov.scot/young-carer-grant/applying-outside-of-scotland