Assessment of earnings

Clients cannot get Carer Support Payment if they earn more than a certain amount a week after certain deductions. For the current rate visit: If you work - mygov.scot. For previous rates see operational guidance on carer benefit payment amounts.:  This is because Carer Support Payment is an ‘income replacement’ benefit – so it is designed to support people who are less able to take on paid work because of their caring responsibilities. This chapter describes how earnings are calculated, assessed and checked for Carer Support Payment clients depending on their circumstances. For more details see Carer Support Payment Regulations, paragraph 14(1) and Schedule 2.

For more details see Carer Support Payment Regulations, regulation 14(1)(link is external)(link is external) and Schedule 2(link is external)(link is external)

These rules can be complex, particularly where clients have different types of earnings or earnings which vary. In order to calculate earnings, decision makers may need to make informed judgements about what the client would normally earn. This means trying to work out what the client was usually earning at the time of their:

• chosen start date if applying to backdate
• application date
• change of circumstance if relevant

Decision makers may also need to decide if they are reasonably satisfied that certain deductions apply or that a payment can be disregarded on the basis of available supporting information. More information on the principles of decision making can be found here.

Earnings rules for Carer Support Payment largely mirror those for Carer’s Allowance, the benefit that Carer Support Payment replaced.

From 15 March 2026

From 15 March 2026, Carer Support replaced Carer Support Payment. This is a single benefit that is made up of three components:

• Carer Support Payment
• Scottish Carer Supplement
• Carer Additional Person Payment

The term ‘Carer Support’ is not used in public facing communications or with clients. In order for a client to be entitled to Scottish Carer Supplement, they must meet all of the eligibility criteria for Carer Support Payment, including having earnings below the limit. Earnings rules set out in this guidance only apply to the component of Carer Support Payment. In order for a client to be entitled to Carer Additional Person Payment, they must meet all of the eligibility criteria for Carer Support Payment and provide at least 20 hours of care a week for an additional cared for person getting a qualifying disability benefit.

More information about Carer Support, Scottish Carer Supplement and Carer Additional Person Payment can be found at Overview of Determinations and Awards.