Payment of Carer Support Payment after the death of the cared for person
When the cared for person dies, and the carer was entitled to Carer Support immediately before their death, entitlement to any and all components of Carer Support will continue:
- for a period of 12 award weeks starting on the first day of the award week following the award week in which the cared for person died (to note, the award week for Carer Support runs from Sunday to Saturday), or
- if the client (carer) ceases to satisfy any other eligibility requirement set out in regulations 6 to 14 of the Carer Support Payment Regulations during this 12-week period, this will result in them no longer being eligible for Carer Support. If this happens, Carer Support will end before the bereavement run-on of 12 weeks. Carer Support would stop on the first Sunday following the award week in which they stop meeting the eligibility criteria.
Carer Support Payment regs, reg. 16 (4)
Example 1: run-on after the death of a cared for person who is an adult
Joe receives Carer Support for caring for Guy. Joe gets payments of the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components.
Social Security Scotland is notified on Sunday 17 September that Guy died on Thursday 05 September. The Bereavement client adviser inputs the date of death into SPM. A client adviser makes a determination that Guy is no longer entitled to Adult Disability Payment from and including 06 September, the day after death.
Joe will be paid Carer Support for a period of 12 award weeks from the first Sunday after the week in which Guy died. A Carer Support benefit week runs from a Sunday to Saturday. Joe continues to meet all other eligibility criteria for Carer Support and will therefore be paid the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for the period between Sunday 07 September to Saturday 06 December.
The Carer Support client advisor follows guidance to:
- Check for ongoing re-determinations and appeals
- Check for a payment correction case
- Creating the Bereavement End of Award letter
Example 2: run-on after the death of a cared for person who is an adult
Alfie receives the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for caring for Michelle.
Alfie uses the “Tell Us Once” service on Wednesday 21 June to report that Michelle died on Monday 19 June, which automatically notifies Social Security Scotland and means that Alfie doesn’t need to contact the agency separately.
The Bereavement client adviser inputs the date of death into SPM. A client adviser makes a determination that Michelle is no longer entitled to Adult Disability Payment from and including 20 June, the day after death.
Alfie will be paid Carer Support for a period of 12 award weeks after the first day of the award week following the award week in which Michelle died. A Carer Support benefit week runs from a Sunday to Saturday. Alfie continues to meet all other eligibility criteria and will therefore be paid the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for the period Sunday 22 June to Saturday 13 September.
The Carer Support client advisor follows guidance to:
- Check for ongoing re-determinations and appeals
- Check for a payment correction case
- Creating the Bereavement End of Award letter
Example 3: run-on after the death of a cared for person who is a child receiving the middle or highest rate of Child Disability Payment
Ahmed receives Carer Support, including the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for caring for June.
June is a child and they were in receipt of the highest rate of Child Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland. Social Security Scotland is notified on Friday 7 February that June died on Monday 3 February. June had been in receipt of Child Disability Payment for 2 years prior to their death. A client adviser for Child Disability Payment makes a determination of the remaining amount of Child Disability Payment due to the person specified in June’s Child Disability Payment application. This is the weekly rate for both the mobility and living components that June was receiving, multiplied by 2 for each week in the period of 8 weeks ending with the date of June’s death. This amount is paid to the person specified in June’s Child Disability Payment application.
Ahmed continues to meet all other eligibility criteria and can be paid the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for a period of 12 award weeks starting from the first day of the award week following the award week in which June died. A Carer Support benefit week runs from a Sunday to Saturday. The 12 week period for which Ahmed should be paid would begin on Sunday 09 February and end on Saturday 03 May.
Example 4: run-on after the death of a cared for person where circumstances change
May receives the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for caring for Grace.
Social Security Scotland is notified on Monday 16 December that Grace died on Tuesday 10 December. The Bereavement client adviser inputs the date of death into SPM. A client adviser makes a determination that Grace is no longer entitled to Adult Disability Payment from and including Wednesday 11 December, the day after her death.
May continues to meet all other eligibility criteria and can be paid the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for a period of 12 award weeks after the first day of the award week following the award week in which Grace died. A Carer Support benefit week runs from a Sunday to Saturday. The 12 week period would begin on Sunday 15 December and end on Saturday 08 March.
May starts a new job and on Monday 13 January reports she has been paid £300 on Friday 8 January. On Monday 11 January May tells agency about her earnings and that she will continue to earn £300 per week. After checking for expenses, May’s net earnings are above the earnings limit each week. May’s Carer Support award would therefore end on Saturday 16 January. Her earnings from that week affect her entitlement in the following award week. The end of her award is before the end of the 12 week run on as she no longer meets the other eligibility criteria for Carer Support.
Example 5: run-on after the death of a cared for person where circumstances change
Paul receives the Carer Support Payment and Scottish Carer Supplement components for caring for Ellie.
Social Security Scotland is notified on Wednesday 17 September that Ellie has passed away on Monday 15 September. The Bereavement client adviser inputs the date of death into SPM. A client adviser makes a determination that Ellie is no longer entitled to Adult Disability Payment from and including Tuesday 16 September, the day after her death.
Paul can therefore be paid Carer Support for a period of 12 award weeks after the first day of the award week following the award week in which Ellie died. A Carer Support Payment benefit week runs from a Sunday to Saturday. The 12 week period would begin on Sunday 21 September and end on Saturday 13 December.
On Monday 26 October, Paul starts a new job and receives net earnings over the limit on Friday 30 October. Paul reports the change on Monday 02 November, and confirms that he will continue to earn over the limit each week he is paid. Paul’s Carer Support award would end on Saturday 7 November. The earnings he received on Friday 30 October are treated as paid on Sunday 25 October. His earnings in that week affect his entitlement in the following week. . Paul’s Carer Support award would, in this instance, end on Saturday 07 November (his earnings from 27 October are allocated to the following week). The end of his award week is before the end of the 12 week run on as he no longer meets the other eligibility criteria for Carer Support.