When entitlement to Scottish benefits begins

If the client applies within the required timescales, entitlement to Scottish disability benefits begins on the day the individual’s entitlement to the DWP or DfC benefit ceased. This means they should be paid from the day after their DWP or DfC benefit stops being paid (CDP Regs 35(3), ADP Regs 52(3)).

Entitlement to the Carer Support award begins on the first day of the award week in which the individual’s entitlement to Carer’s Allowance (CA) ceased or 15 March 2026, whichever is later, provided they meet the eligibility criteria on this date. This means the client should be paid from the beginning of the first award week in which they don’t receive Carer's Allowance (CSP Regs 41(3)).

If the client cares for someone who is in receipt of Constant Attendance Allowance, “award week” means a period of 4 days, starting on the Wednesday of that week and ending on the following Saturday. In all other cases, “award week” is a period of 6 days, starting on the Monday of that week and ending on the following Saturday. This is because award weeks for CA do not align with the award weeks for CSP (CSP Regs 41(3), 41(6)).

If a client is not eligible for Carer Support on the day their entitlement would otherwise begin under cross-border rules, entitlement can be set from a future date once they meet all of the eligibility criteria (as long as this is within 13 weeks of the application date). This means where a client is still in receipt of Carer’s Allowance due to the DWP run-on on the day they apply, or where they are awaiting a decision on the cared for person’s qualifying disability benefit following the cared for person’s move to Scotland, we can start their award after their Carer’s Allowance ends or the disability benefit decision is made (CSP Regs 18(3)).

If the client applies within the required timescales, and there is no good reason for the delay, the client cannot benefit from the cross border regulations and entitlement will begin in accordance with regulation 35(4) to (6) (ADP regs) or regulation 24(4) to (6) (CDP regs) (CDP Regs 35(4), ADP Regs 52(4)).

If a person would have been entitled to any payment of Scottish Carer Supplement or Carer Additional Person Payment  had their entitlement to Carer Support Payment began on a date between: 

• the date of the move, and 
• the date their entitlement to Carer Support Payment begins

their first payment should be increased by the value of the Scottish Carer Supplement and Carer Additional Person Payment payments they would have been entitled to for each award week between these dates. 

(CSP Regs 41(3A)).

Example

Adele is in receipt of Carer’s Allowance from DWP and moves to Scotland on 21 March 2026.

Adele informs DWP, who starts the 13 week run on period of Carer’s Allowance from the date of her move.

Adele submits her Carer Support Payment Application for Carer Support  on 1 April 2026. As her Carer’s Allowance run on period will end after 13 weeks on Sunday 21 June 2026, her Carer Support Payment award begins on the first day of the next award week, which is the Monday 22 June 2026.

Adele is also entitled to the Scottish Carer Supplement and Carer Additional Person Payment components.

To ensure Adele has not missed out on payments she was entitled to while living in Scotland, an uplift payment can be made for the value of Scottish Carer Supplement and Carer Additional Person Payment she could have got during her Carer’s Allowance run on period. This would be the period from 21 March to 21 June 2026. 

For Carer Support, entitlement will begin in accordance with regulation 18(2)(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) and 18(3) which specify the beginning of entitlement to assistance (CSP Regs 41(4)).