Definition of ‘non advanced’ and ‘advanced’ education for Carer Support Payment

Eligibility for Carer Support Payment may depend on whether a carer is in ‘non-advanced’ or ‘advanced’ education, if they are aged 16 to 19. More information on how these are defined is below.

Non-advanced education is the following (or equivalent if education is undertaken out-with Scotland, or is a non-Scottish qualification):

• Scottish Credit Qualification level 6 (and below) 
• National Certificates
• Higher and Advanced Higher qualifications
• Scottish Baccalaureate or International Baccalaureate
• National Qualifications and approved training programmes supported through local authorities and ‘No one left behind’

Evidence of an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) award would generally indicate that the client is aged 16-19 and in non-advanced education at either school or college. If this is the case, the clients’ hours of study should be looked at to determine whether the course is full or part-time – if it is full-time, the client wouldn’t be eligible for Carer Support Payment unless they met the exceptional circumstances criteria, but if it were part-time they may be eligible. If the client receives EMA and indicates that they are studying a course part-time, further supporting information should be obtained to evidence this.

Advanced Education means the following (or equivalent if education is undertaken out-with Scotland or is a non-Scottish qualification): 

• Higher National Certificate
• Higher National Diploma 
• Diploma of higher education 
• Degree and above
• Teaching qualification; or

Any other course which is of a standard above the following should also be considered as advanced education, such as:  

• Ordinary National Diploma 
• National Diploma or National Certificate of Edexcel 
• General certificate of education (advanced level) 
• Scottish National Qualifications at Higher or Advanced Higher level 

This is not an exhaustive list and courses which are equivalent should also be considered advanced education.