Death of a cared for person after a carer has moved out of Scotland to the rest of the UK
If a carer receiving Carer Support Payment moves out of Scotland to the rest of the UK, their entitlement to Carer Support Payment can continue for up to 13 weeks as they are treated as still being ordinarily resident in Scotland.
This '13 week run on' is designed to prevent gaps in carers' entitlement and support while they apply for the equivalent benefit in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
The 13 week run on begins when the carer moves out of Scotland. From, and inclusive of, 16 November 2025, if the person the carer is caring for dies at any point during the 13 week run on, the carer can be treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland for a period of 8 award weeks after the first day of the award week following the award week in which the cared for person died. These rules will apply where a determination of entitlement is made after 16 November, including where that determination is related to a change of circumstances that occurred before 16 November 2025 (CSP regs, reg. 42 (1A))
This means that the carer should receive the full bereavement run on even if they have moved out of Scotland. They may continue to receive Carer Support Payment for less than 13 weeks after their move out of Scotland, or more than 13 weeks after their move from Scotland depending on when in the ‘13 week run on’ the person they are caring for dies.
Prior to 16 November 2025, payments of Carer Support Payment would have ended at the end of the 13 week cross border run on regardless of when the person the carer was caring for had died. This is because the carer would not have been treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland after the 13 week run on so the bereavement run on could not be paid after this.
It will remain the case that if the carer’s other circumstances change during the 8 week bereavement run on so that they no longer meet the other eligibility criteria (other than providing care to a cared for person) their entitlement should end from the first day of the award week following the week in which they no longer meet the other criteria (CSP regs, reg. 16(4)).
Example 1: Rules from 16 November 2025: Death of a cared for person following a move from Scotland to elsewhere in the UK when a cared for person has died near the end of the 13 week run on
Belinda receives Carer Support Payment for caring for her mother, Eleanor. Belinda reports that she and her mother are moving to England on 08/01/2026. Belinda’s Carer Support Payment will continue for 13 weeks from the benefit week after that week, so it is due to be paid until 11/04/2026. On 24/03/2024, Social Security Scotland is notified that Eleanor has died. Belinda can continue to be treated as being ordinarily resident in Scotland for a further 8 weeks from the first day of the award week in which Eleanor died. She would therefore continue to be paid until 23/05/2026 (where none of her other circumstances change).
Example 2: Death of a cared for person following a move from Scotland to elsewhere in the UK when a cared for person has died near the beginning of the 13 week run on
Hayley receives Carer Support Payment for caring for her father, Mitchell. Hayley reports that she and her father are moving to Wales on 02/12/202. Hayley’s Carer Support Payment will continue for 13 weeks from the benefit week after this week, so this means it is due to be paid until 08/03/2026. However, on 20/12/2025, Hayley notifies Social Security Scotland that Mitchell has died. Hayley’s Carer Support Payment award should continue for 8 weeks from the first day of the award week following the week in which Mitchell died, up to the end of the 8 week bereavement run on period. She would not receive the full 13 week run on and her award would end in full on 14/02/2026.