Full time education rules

From March 2026, Carer Support Payment will be replaced with ‘Carer Support’ – one benefit with three components. Carers already getting Carer Support Payment will have their benefit transferred automatically without having to apply. The three components include:

• Carer Support Payment – an ‘income replacement’ benefit which provides financial support for people caring for 35 hours or more a week, in recognition of their caring role and the impact of this on their lives and ability to take on paid work.
• Scottish Carer Supplement – which will replace Carer’s Allowance Supplement for those in receipt of Carer Support Payment. This will be paid weekly, instead of twice yearly, so that carers getting Carer Support Payment can receive extra support more regularly.
• Carer Additional Person Payment – carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment who have multiple caring roles will be paid an extra £520 per year for every additional cared for person.

Carer Support  rules on when you can get the benefit while studying are different from the rules for Carer’s Allowance (the benefit Carer Support has replaced). People who are studying part-time for 21 hours or less a week can get Carer’s Allowance, but it is not available to anyone studying full-time or for 21 hours or more a week.

Carer Support will be available to some full-time students, but not all full-time students.

This chapter sets out the rules on when carers can get Carer Support while in education.