Change of circumstances

Once a client has been awarded Carer Support, they have a duty to tell us about any change in their circumstances which may affect their entitlement to any of the components (Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, section 56). Information on this duty and the kind of changes clients should report is included in award notifications.

Clients can report a change of circumstances:

• online
• by telephone
• using a paper form

The changes which could affect a client’s award of Carer Support are:

• Change of address (this should affect entitlement only if they leave Scotland)
• Change in their employment, earnings or deductions from earnings
• Changes to education – for example, if they enter full-time non-advanced education
• Changes to the qualifying disability benefits of the person they care for
• Changes to any overlapping benefits they receive
• Temporary stops in care
• End of caring role (or a reduction in caring hours below 35 hours a week)
• Absence from the Common Travel Area
• Death of the person being cared for, or the client
• Starting or stopping providing 20 hours per week of care for an additional person

Clients should tell us about a change of circumstances ‘as soon as reasonably practicable after it occurs’.

The point at which a change of circumstances should affect a client’s award of Carer Support will differ depending on what the change is, when they report it, and the effect it has on their benefit.

Note that becoming eligible for the Carer Additional Person Payment component after the start of a Carer Support Payment award is dealt with as a change of circumstances, and the relevant effective date rules apply as set out in this guidance. 

Where a carer requests Carer Additional Person Payment as part of their Carer Support Payment application, please see the chapter ‘Applying for CSP’ for information on award start dates and backdating.