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Cancelling entitlement
Before accepting a request to cancel entitlement, you should:
- explain the impact of deciding to cancel entitlement;
- tell the individual which other Social Security Scotland benefits they might be eligible for, if any; and
- signpost the individual to independent advice services, such as the Independent Advocacy Service ahead of making a final decision.
The impact of cancelling entitlement is that the individual will have to reapply if they want us to consider their eligibility for Carer Support at a future date. Cancelling entitlement to Carer Support may also have an impact on the rates and premiums of any passported benefits they receive.
If the individual reapplies, we’ll make a new determination of entitlement. If the outcome of the determination of entitlement is that the client is entitled to Carer Support, the rules on when entitlement begins will apply.
If the individual is certain that they want to cancel entitlement after hearing this information, then you must do this. This rule only applies if cancellation is the correct step rather than making a determination without application due to a change of circumstances.
Examples
Example 1: An individual requests that Carer Support be cancelled as they believe they’ll no longer be eligible due to starting part time work
Request received to cancel benefit
Elizabeth is a carer and has started part-time work. They request that their Carer Support award be cancelled on 27 August because they are starting work on that date and believe they’ll no longer be eligible for Carer Support.
Discussion of available options
The client adviser explains to Elizabeth that:
- the change is a change of circumstances and
- their case could therefore be subject to a review rather than cancelling entitlement
The client adviser also explains the impact of cancelling the award of Carer Support to Elizabeth to make sure they fully understand this decision. They discuss all options that are available to them. Elizabeth decides that they’d like their case to be reviewed on the basis of a change in circumstances.
Client advisor reviews entitlement
The client adviser gathers supporting information and carries out a review. Elizabeth is still entitled to Carer Support as they do not earn over the earnings threshold and still fulfil the other eligibility criteria for Carer Support.
It is determined that Elizabeth’s entitlement to Carer Support should continue and confirmed with Elizabeth that they wish to continue to receive Carer Support.
Example 2: An individual entitled to Carer Support requests that it stop being paid due to receiving an inheritance
Client requests benefit to stop
Jamie is entitled to Carer Support. On 3 April, Jamie phones Social Security Scotland to request that Carer Support stop being paid. Jamie has recently received an inheritance from their uncle and does not wish to receive financial support in the form of Carer Support.
Client advisor actions
A client adviser discusses the impact of cancelling Carer Support with Jamie, including that this will mean their Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement will both stop.
The client adviser discusses all the options with Jamie before confirming that they want to cancel the award.
Before proceeding to the final cancellation process, the client adviser does a final check that Jamie is sure about this decision.
Then, the client adviser explains how to make a cancellation request.
Jamie confirms they want Carer Support to end immediately, it is processed and Jamie’s entitlement to Carer Support is ended from the first day of the following award week.
Example 3: An individual wishes to stop receiving Scottish Carer Supplement due to concerns about impacts on other benefits
Gagandeep is entitled to Carer Support. She calls Social Security Scotland to request that they do not pay Scottish Carer Supplement as she is worried this will have an effect on the other means-tested benefits she receives.
The client adviser lets Gagandeep know that she cannot cancel Scottish Carer Supplement without cancelling her whole award of Carer Support.
The adviser is able to reassure Gagandeep that receiving Scottish Carer Supplement will not affect any of her means-tested benefits. Gagandeep decides not to end her entitlement to Carer Support.
Example 4: An individual is no longer entitled to receive Carer Additional Person Payment
Client reports a change in caring responsibility
Tommy cares for his mother Jean and receives Carer Support. He also looks after Jean’s neighbour Frances for 20 hours per week and has been receiving Carer Additional Person Payment for this. Tommy phones Social Security Scotland to explain that the care of Frances as well as Jean is getting too much for him and so his sister has agreed that she will start looking after Frances instead. Tommy is not sure what this should mean for his Carer Support award, but he is worried about overpayments so feels it would be better to cancel his award.
Client advisor discusses available options
The client adviser lets Tommy know that he does not have to cancel his whole Carer Support award. If he is no longer providing the care to Frances, he can report that as a change of circumstances. If Tommy reports the change as soon as reasonably practicable, he will stop receiving Carer Additional Person Payment from the start of the award week following the week where the new determination is made.
Having discussed his options, Tommy agrees to a review of his award, and that he’d like to continue to receive Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement, as he is still eligible for these through caring for Jean.
Example 5: The cared-for person goes into hospital
Client requests benefit to stop due to temporary stop in care
Lin receives Carer Support for caring for her father, who receives Pension Age Disability Payment(PADP). Her father is admitted to hospital and two weeks later, transferred to a rehabilitation unit. Lin phones Social Security Scotland to cancel her Carer Support because she is not providing 35 hours of care to her father at this point.
Client advisor discusses available options
The client adviser explains to Lin that:
- the change is a change of circumstances; and
- her case could therefore be subject to a review rather than cancelling entitlement
The client adviser also explains the impact of cancelling the award of Carer Support to make sure Lin fully understands this decision. They discuss all options that are available.
Client advisor explains next steps
Referring to guidance on temporary stops in entitlement, the client adviser is able to tell Lin that her entitlement to Carer Support will stop when her father’s PADP is set to £0 because of his stay in alternative accommodation. This will usually be after he has spent more than 28 days in hospital or similar institution. Lin’s Carer Support can start again without her having to make a new application, if her father leaves the rehabilitation unit and starts to receive PADP again within 26 weeks.
However, if Lin were to cancel her award, she would need to make a new application if she wanted to start receiving Carer Support again.
Client wishes to continue receiving Carer Support
Having considered this information, Lin confirms that she does not wish for her Carer Support award to be cancelled at this point. She agrees to keep Social Security Scotland updated about her father’s circumstances so that a new determination can be made at the appropriate time.