Temporary stops in care
Carers can continue getting payments of Carer Support Payment if they have temporarily stopped providing care to the cared for person.
They can continue getting payments for up to four weeks in any 26 week period, or up to 12 weeks where they or the person they care for is in hospital.
This is as long as the qualifying disability benefit is still in payment.
For Case Transfer clients, this previous 26 weeks can include time when they were receiving Carer’s Allowance (regulation 40).
Example: A case transfer client temporarily stops providing care in the 26 weeks after transfer
Megan provides care for her brother Brian and recently had her award for Carer’s Allowance transferred to Carer Support Payment.
Four weeks before her award transferred to Carer Support Payment, Megan reported to the Department for Work and Pensions that she was taking a two week break from caring for Brian, and she continued to receive payments of Carer’s Allowance.
Six weeks after Megan’s award was transferred to Social Security Scotland, she reports to Social Security Scotland that she is taking a break from caring for Brian.
In the previous 26 week period, Megan has had two weeks where she was not providing care to Brian, meaning she can continue to receive payments of Carer Support Payment for a further two weeks until her payments will stop, unless she resumes providing care for Brian.